creative way to start a essay

How to Start an Essay: 13 Engaging Strategies

ThoughtCo / Hugo Lin

• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

There are countless ways to start an essay effectively. A solid introductory paragraph both informs and motivates. It lets readers know what your piece is about and it encourages them to keep reading.

For folks new to learning how to start an essay, here are 13 introductory strategies accompanied by examples from a wide range of professional writers.

State Your Thesis Briefly and Directly

One straightforward way to begin is to get right to the point. But avoid making your thesis a bald announcement, such as "This essay is about...". 

"It is time, at last, to speak the truth about Thanksgiving, and the truth is this. Thanksgiving is really not such a terrific holiday...." (Michael J. Arlen, "Ode to Thanksgiving." The Camera Age: Essays on Television . Penguin, 1982)

Pose a Question Related to Your Subject

A thought-provoking way to start an essay is by asking a relevant question that needs to be unpacked. Follow up the question with an answer, or an invitation for your readers to answer the question.

"What is the charm of necklaces? Why would anyone put something extra around their neck and then invest it with special significance? A necklace doesn't afford warmth in cold weather, like a scarf, or protection in combat, like chain mail; it only decorates. We might say, it borrows meaning from what it surrounds and sets off, the head with its supremely important material contents, and the face, that register of the soul. When photographers discuss the way in which a photograph reduces the reality it represents, they mention not only the passage from three dimensions to two, but also the selection of a point de vue that favors the top of the body rather than the bottom, and the front rather than the back. The face is the jewel in the crown of the body, and so we give it a setting." (Emily R. Grosholz, "On Necklaces." Prairie Schooner , Summer 2007)

State an Interesting Fact About Your Subject

Leading with a fact that draws readers in immediately can grab their attention effectively.

" The peregrine falcon was brought back from the brink of extinction by a ban on DDT, but also by a peregrine falcon mating hat invented by an ornithologist at Cornell University. If you cannot buy this, Google it. Female falcons had grown dangerously scarce. A few wistful males nevertheless maintained a sort of sexual loitering ground. The hat was imagined, constructed, and then forthrightly worn by the ornithologist as he patrolled this loitering ground, singing, Chee-up! Chee-up! and bowing like an overpolite Japanese Buddhist trying to tell somebody goodbye...." (David James Duncan, "Cherish This Ecstasy." The Sun , July 2008)

Present Your Thesis as a Recent Discovery or Revelation

"I've finally figured out the difference between neat people and sloppy people. The distinction is, as always, moral. Neat people are lazier and meaner than sloppy people." (Suzanne Britt Jordan, "Neat People vs. Sloppy People." Show and Tell . Morning Owl Press, 1983)

Briefly Describe the Primary Setting of Your Essay

"It was in Burma, a sodden morning of the rains. A sickly light, like yellow tinfoil, was slanting over the high walls into the jail yard. We were waiting outside the condemned cells, a row of sheds fronted with double bars, like small animal cages. Each cell measured about ten feet by ten and was quite bare within except for a plank bed and a pot of drinking water. In some of them brown silent men were squatting at the inner bars, with their blankets draped round them. These were the condemned men, due to be hanged within the next week or two." (George Orwell, "A Hanging," 1931)

Recount an Incident That Dramatizes Your Subject

Sharing an incident from your life or history in general is an impactful way to start an essay.

"One October afternoon three years ago while I was visiting my parents, my mother made a request I dreaded and longed to fulfill. She had just poured me a cup of Earl Grey from her Japanese iron teapot, shaped like a little pumpkin; outside, two cardinals splashed in the birdbath in the weak Connecticut sunlight. Her white hair was gathered at the nape of her neck, and her voice was low. “Please help me get Jeff’s pacemaker turned off,” she said, using my father’s first name. I nodded, and my heart knocked." (Katy Butler, "What Broke My Father's Heart." The New York Times Magazine , June 18, 2010)

Use the Narrative Strategy of Delay

The narrative strategy of delay allows you to put off identifying your subject just long enough to pique your readers' interest without frustrating them. 

"They woof. Though I have photographed them before, I have never heard them speak, for they are mostly silent birds. Lacking a syrinx, the avian equivalent of the human larynx, they are incapable of song. According to field guides the only sounds they make are grunts and hisses, though the Hawk Conservancy in the United Kingdom reports that adults may utter a croaking coo and that young black vultures, when annoyed, emit a kind of immature snarl...." (Lee Zacharias, "Buzzards." Southern Humanities Review , 2007)

Use the Historical Present Tense

An effective way to start an essay is to use historical present tense to relate an incident from the past as if it were happening now. 

"Ben and I are sitting side by side in the very back of his mother’s station wagon. We face glowing white headlights of cars following us, our sneakers pressed against the back hatch door. This is our joy—his and mine—to sit turned away from our moms and dads in this place that feels like a secret, as though they are not even in the car with us. They have just taken us out to dinner, and now we are driving home. Years from this evening, I won’t actually be sure that this boy sitting beside me is named Ben. But that doesn’t matter tonight. What I know for certain right now is that I love him, and I need to tell him this fact before we return to our separate houses, next door to each other. We are both five." (Ryan Van Meter, "First." The Gettysburg Review , Winter 2008)

Briefly Describe a Process That Leads Into Your Subject

"I like to take my time when I pronounce someone dead. The bare-minimum requirement is one minute with a stethoscope pressed to someone’s chest, listening for a sound that is not there; with my fingers bearing down on the side of someone’s neck, feeling for an absent pulse; with a flashlight beamed into someone’s fixed and dilated pupils, waiting for the constriction that will not come. If I’m in a hurry, I can do all of these in sixty seconds, but when I have the time, I like to take a minute with each task." (Jane Churchon, "The Dead Book." The Sun , February 2009)

Reveal a Secret or Make a Candid Observation

"I spy on my patients. Ought not a doctor to observe his patients by any means and from any stance, that he might the more fully assemble evidence? So I stand in doorways of hospital rooms and gaze. Oh, it is not all that furtive an act. Those in bed need only look up to discover me. But they never do." ( Richard Selzer , "The Discus Thrower." Confessions of a Knife . Simon & Schuster, 1979)

Open with a Riddle, Joke, or Humorous Quotation

A fun way to start an essay is to use a riddle , joke, or humorous quotation that reveals something about your subject. 

" Q: What did Eve say to Adam on being expelled from the Garden of Eden? A: 'I think we're in a time of transition.' The irony of this joke is not lost as we begin a new century and anxieties about social change seem rife. The implication of this message, covering the first of many periods of transition, is that change is normal; there is, in fact, no era or society in which change is not a permanent feature of the social landscape...." (Betty G. Farrell, Family: The Making of an Idea, an Institution, and a Controversy in American Culture . Westview Press, 1999)

Offer a Contrast Between Past and Present

"As a child, I was made to look out the window of a moving car and appreciate the beautiful scenery, with the result that now I don't care much for nature. I prefer parks, ones with radios going chuckawaka chuckawaka and the delicious whiff of bratwurst and cigarette smoke." (Garrison Keillor, "Walking Down The Canyon." Time , July 31, 2000)

Offer a Contrast Between Image and Reality

A compelling way to start an essay is with a contrast between a common misconception and the opposing truth. 

"They aren’t what most people think they are. Human eyes, touted as ethereal objects by poets and novelists throughout history, are nothing more than white spheres, somewhat larger than your average marble, covered by a leather-like tissue known as sclera and filled with nature’s facsimile of Jell-O. Your beloved’s eyes may pierce your heart, but in all likelihood they closely resemble the eyes of every other person on the planet. At least I hope they do, for otherwise he or she suffers from severe myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), or worse...." (John Gamel, "The Elegant Eye." Alaska Quarterly Review , 2009)

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• What Is Expository Writing?
• An Essay Revision Checklist
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• 50 Argumentative Essay Topics
• How to Outline and Organize an Essay
• How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech (With Topic Ideas)
• Writing an Opinion Essay

How To Start An Essay (With 20 Great Examples)

Facing a blank page and unsure how to start your essay? Crafting a compelling essay isn’t innate for everyone. While it’s about presenting clear ideas, even top students can struggle. For many, meeting deadlines or ensuring quality becomes daunting, leading them to consult professionals like do my essay cheap . These experts whip up top-tier essays swiftly. A standout essay can elevate your academic status, with the introduction being the pivotal hook. Many opt to hire essay writers for that impeccable start. But crafting an engaging intro is doable. Want to captivate your readers immediately? Or impress academic panels? If the task still feels daunting, there’s always the option to buy assignments online for guaranteed quality. But let’s explore ways to start an essay on your own.

How to start your essay? – The most straightforward advice

How to begin your essay – the lengthier and more appropriate advice.

The aim of an academic essay is usually to persuade readers to change their minds about something. It can also be a descriptive, expository, argumentative, or narrative essay .

But regardless of the  format of the essay , the introduction should still have these basic ingredients:

How long should an essay introduction be.

It all depends on the overall length of your essay. If it’s a standard, five-paragraph  college essay , the introduction should only take one paragraph or 60-80 words. But if you’re writing something longer, for example, a five-page interpretation of a literary work, the introduction could take two to three paragraphs or 120-150 words. You can measure the length using a simple word counter but don’t obsess too much about the number. The crucial thing is to say what you need to say and impact the reader.

The aim of the introductory paragraph

The first paragraph is always tricky because it serves a double purpose. It has to state what the essay will be about, but it needs to hook the readers and motivate them to read on. That’s why you need a perfect balance between clinical precision and artistic flair.

If you truly want to learn how to begin an essay, there are three best ways to do it:

20 great examples and tips on how to start an essay:, 1. describe a setting and start with an emotional punch, 2. start with a deeply personal story from your childhood.

“One Sunday morning when I was a boy, my father came out of his office and handed me a poem. It was about a honeybee counseling a flea to flee a doggy and see the sea. The barbiturates my father took to regulate his emotions made him insomniac, and I understood that he’d been awake most of the night, laboring over these lines, listing all the words he could think of ending in a long “e.” – Charles D’Ambrosio – Documents

3. Create a mysterious atmosphere

“Moths that fly by day are not properly to be called moths; they do not excite that pleasant sense of dark autumn nights and ivy-blossom which the commonest yellow-underwing asleep in the shadow of the curtain never fails to rouse in us.” – Virginia Woolf – Death of the Moth

4. Throw the reader straight into the middle of the events

“Earlier this summer I was walking down West End Avenue in Manhattan and remembered, with a sadness that nearly knocked me off my feet, just why I came to New York seven years ago and just why I am now about to leave.” – Meghan Daum – My Misspent Youth

5. Start with universal questions of life and death

6. start with a question and then answer it.

“What is the charm of necklaces? Why would anyone put something extra around their neck and then invest it with special significance? A necklace doesn’t afford warmth in cold weather, like a scarf, or protection in combat, like chain mail; it only decorates. We might say, it borrows meaning from what it surrounds and sets off, the head with its supremely important material contents, and the face, that register of the soul.” – Emily R. Grosholz – On Necklaces

7. Start with irony

“In Moulmein, in Lower Burma, I was hated by large numbers of people – the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me.” – George Orwell – Shooting an Elephant

8. Begin by creating great expectations of what’s to come (use the introduction as bait)

9. start with a puzzle (notice how you start to wonder who is she talking about in this introduction), 10. start with dark humor.

“When I was young, I thought Life: A User’s Manual would teach me how to live and Suicide: A User’s Manual how to die.” – Édouard Levé – When I Look at a Strawberry, I Think of a Tongue

11. Start with an unusual question that will pull the readers in

12. commence by taking the reader into the world of mystery and awe, 13. state your thesis at the very beginning – be clear about it.

“Science has beauty, power, and majesty that can provide spiritual as well as practical fulfillment. But superstition and pseudoscience keep getting in the way providing easy answers, casually pressing our awe buttons, and cheapening the experience.” – Carl Sagan – Does Truth Matter – Science, Pseudoscience, and Civilization

14. Start with the obvious that’s not so obvious after all

“To do something well you have to like it. That idea is not exactly novel. We’ve got it down to four words: “Do what you love.” But it’s not enough just to tell people that. Doing what you love is complicated.” – Paul Graham – How To Do What You Love

15. Be unpredictable and highly intellectual

“Once, in a dry season, I wrote in large letters across two pages of a notebook that innocence ends when one is stripped of the delusion that one likes oneself. Although now, some years later, I marvel that a mind on the outs with itself should have nonetheless made painstaking record of its every tremor, I recall with embarrassing clarity the flavor of those particular ashes. It was a matter of misplaced self-respect.” – Joan Didion – On Self Respect

16. Get straight to the point

17. start in a deeply emotional, poetic manner, 18. begin by describing the place and circumstances in great detail.

“Two blocks away from the Mississippi State Capitol, and on the same street with it, where our house was when I was a child growing up in Jackson, it was possible to have a little pasture behind your backyard where you could keep a Jersey cow, which we did. My mother herself milked her. A thrifty homemaker, wife, and mother of three, she also did all her cooking. And as far as I can recall, she never set foot inside a grocery store. It wasn’t necessary.” – Eudora Welty – The Little Store

19. Start by presenting an original idea (frame it in a way that the reader never considered before)

“Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent, but the tests that have to be applied to them are not, of course, the same in all cases. In Gandhi’s case the questions one feels inclined to ask are: to what extent was Gandhi moved by vanity — by the consciousness of himself as a humble, naked old man, sitting on a praying mat and shaking empires by sheer spiritual power — and to what extent did he compromise his principles by entering politics, which of their nature are inseparable from coercion and fraud?” – George Orwell – Reflections on Gandhi

20. Be clear-headed and approach the subject as objectively as possible

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How to Start a College Essay to Hook Your Reader

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What’s Covered:

What is the purpose of the college essay introduction, tips for getting started on your essay, 6 effective techniques for starting your college essay.

• Cliche College Essay Introduction to Avoid

Where to Get Your Essay Edited for Free

Have you sat down to write your essay and just hit a wall of writer’s block? Do you have too many ideas running around your head, or maybe no ideas at all?

Starting a college essay is potentially the hardest part of the application process. Once you start, it’s easy to keep writing, but that initial hurdle is just so difficult to overcome. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you jump that wall and make your essay the best it can be.

The introduction to a college essay should immediately hook the reader. You want to give admissions officers a reason to stay interested in your story and encourage them to continue reading your essay with an open mind. Remember that admissions officers are only able to spend a couple minutes per essay, so if you bore them or turn them off from the start, they may clock out for the rest of the essay.

As a whole, the college essay should aim to portray a part of your personality that hasn’t been covered by your GPA, extracurriculars, and test scores. This makes the introduction a crucial part of the essay. Think of it as the first glimpse, an intriguing lead on, into the read rest of your essay which also showcases your voice and personality. 

Brainstorm Topics

Take the time to sit down and brainstorm some good topic ideas for your essay. You want your topic to be meaningful to you, while also displaying a part of you that isn’t apparent in other aspects of your application. The essay is an opportunity to show admissions officers the “real you.” If you have a topic in mind, do not feel pressured to start with the introduction. Sometimes the best essay openings are developed last, once you fully grasp the flow of your story.

Do a Freewrite

Give yourself permission to write without judgment for an allotted period of time. For each topic you generated in your brainstorm session, do a free-write session. Set a time for one minute and write down whatever comes to mind for that specific topic. This will help get the juices flowing and push you over that initial bit of writer’s block that’s so common when it comes time to write a college essay. Repeat this exercise if you’re feeling stuck at any point during the essay writing process. Freewriting is a great way to warm up your creative writing brain whilst seeing which topics are flowing more naturally onto the page.

Create an Outline

Once you’ve chosen your topic, write an outline for your whole essay. It’s easier to organize all your thoughts, write the body, and then go back to write the introduction. That way, you already know the direction you want your essay to go because you’ve actually written it out, and you can ensure that your introduction leads directly into the rest of the essay. Admissions officers are looking for the quality of your writing alongside the content of your essay. To be prepared for college-level writing, students should understand how to logically structure an essay. By creating an outline, you are setting yourself up to be judged favorably on the quality of your writing skills.

1. The Scriptwriter

“No! Make it stop! Get me out!” My 5-year-old self waved my arms frantically in front of my face in the darkened movie theater.

Starting your essay with dialogue instantly transports the reader into the story, while also introducing your personal voice. In the rest of the essay, the author proposes a class that introduces people to insects as a type of food. Typically, one would begin directly with the course proposal. However, the author’s inclusion of this flashback weaves in a personal narrative, further displaying her true self.

Read the full essay.

2. The Shocker

A chaotic sense of sickness and filth unfolds in an overcrowded border station in McAllen, Texas. Through soundproof windows, migrants motion that they have not showered in weeks, and children wear clothes caked in mucus and tears. The humanitarian crisis at the southern border exists not only in photographs published by mainstream media, but miles from my home in South Texas.

This essay opener is also a good example of “The Vivid Imaginer.” In this case, the detailed imagery only serves to heighten the shock factor. While people may be aware of the “humanitarian crisis at the southern border,” reading about it in such stark terms is bound to capture the reader’s attention. Through this hook, the reader learns a bit about the author’s home life; an aspect of the student that may not be detailed elsewhere in their application. The rest of the essay goes on to talk about the author’s passion for aiding refugees, and this initial paragraph immediately establishes the author’s personal connection to the refugee crisis.

3. The Vivid Imaginer

The air is crisp and cool, nipping at my ears as I walk under a curtain of darkness that drapes over the sky, starless. It is a Friday night in downtown Corpus Christi, a rare moment of peace in my home city filled with the laughter of strangers and colorful lights of street vendors. But I cannot focus. 

Starting off with a bit of well-written imagery transports the reader to wherever you want to take them. By putting them in this context with you, you allow the reader to closely understand your thoughts and emotions in this situation. Additionally, this method showcases the author’s individual way of looking at the world, a personal touch that is the baseline of all college essays.

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4. The Instant Plunger

The flickering LED lights began to form into a face of a man when I focused my eyes. The man spoke of a ruthless serial killer of the decade who had been arrested in 2004, and my parents shivered at his reaccounting of the case. I curiously tuned in, wondering who he was to speak of such crimes with concrete composure and knowledge. Later, he introduced himself as a profiler named Pyo Chang Won, and I watched the rest of the program by myself without realizing that my parents had left the couch.

Plunging readers into the middle of a story (also known as in medias res ) is an effective hook because it captures attention by placing the reader directly into the action. The descriptive imagery in the first sentence also helps to immerse the reader, creating a satisfying hook while also showing (instead of telling) how the author became interested in criminology. With this technique, it is important to “zoom out,” so to speak, in such a way that the essay remains personal to you.

5. The Philosopher 

Saved in the Notes app on my phone are three questions: What can I know? What must I do? What may I hope for? First asked by Immanuel Kant, these questions guide my pursuit of knowledge and organization of critical thought, both skills that are necessary to move our country and society forward in the right direction.

Posing philosophical questions helps present you as someone with deep ideas while also guiding the focus of your essay. In a way, it presents the reader with a roadmap; they know that these questions provide the theme for the rest of the essay. The more controversial the questions, the more gripping a hook you can create. 

Providing an answer to these questions is not necessarily as important as making sure that the discussions they provoke really showcase you and your own values and beliefs.

6. The Storyteller

One Christmas morning, when I was nine, I opened a snap circuit set from my grandmother. Although I had always loved math and science, I didn’t realize my passion for engineering until I spent the rest of winter break creating different circuits to power various lights, alarms, and sensors. Even after I outgrew the toy, I kept the set in my bedroom at home and knew I wanted to study engineering.

Beginning with an anecdote is a strong way to establish a meaningful connection with the content itself. It also shows that the topic you write about has been a part of your life for a significant amount of time, and something that college admissions officers look for in activities is follow-through; they want to make sure that you are truly interested in something. A personal story such as the one above shows off just that.

Cliche College Essay Introductions to Avoid

Ambiguous introduction.

It’s best to avoid introductory sentences that don’t seem to really say anything at all, such as “Science plays a large role in today’s society,” or “X has existed since the beginning of time.” Statements like these, in addition to being extremely common, don’t demonstrate anything about you, the author. Without a personal connection to you right away, it’s easy for the admissions officer to write off the essay before getting past the first sentence.

Quoting Someone Famous

While having a quotation by a famous author, celebrity, or someone else you admire may seem like a good way to allow the reader to get to know you, these kinds of introductions are actually incredibly overused. You also risk making your essay all about the quotation and the famous person who said it; admissions officers want to get to know you, your beliefs, and your values, not someone who isn’t applying to their school. There are some cases where you may actually be asked to write about a quotation, and that’s fine, but you should avoid starting your essay with someone else’s words outside of this case. It is fine, however, to start with dialogue to plunge your readers into a specific moment.

Talking About Writing an Essay

This method is also very commonplace and is thus best avoided. It’s better to show, not tell, and all this method allows you to do is tell the reader how you were feeling at the time of writing the essay. If you do feel compelled to go this way, make sure to include vivid imagery and focus on grounding the essay in the five senses, which can help elevate your introduction and separate it from the many other meta essays.

Childhood Memories

Phrases like “Ever since I was young…” or “I’ve always wanted…” also lend more to telling rather than showing. If you want to talk about your childhood or past feelings in your essay, try using one of the techniques listed earlier (such as the Instant Plunger or the Vivid Imaginer) to elevate your writing.

CollegeVine has a peer essay review page where peers can tell you if your introduction was enough to hook them. Getting feedback from someone who hasn’t read your essay before, and thus doesn’t have any context which may bias them to be more forgiving to your introduction, is helpful because it mimics the same environment in which an admissions officer will be reading your essay. 

Writing a college essay is hard, but with these tips hopefully starting it will be a little easier!

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October 10, 2018

30 Kickass Ways to Start an Essay

by Nicholas Walker , under IELTS and TOEFL , Writing skills

The purpose of the first sentence in your essay is to make your reader want to read your next sentence. In truth, every sentence you write has the same purpose: to keep them reading to the end.  

So, you have to start off strong. Your first sentence has to have some impact on the reader or you risk your essay being tossed aside never to be picked up again.

Try to feel my pain. As your reader, the last thing I want to read is some dry announcement about your plan for your essay, “ In my essay, I will blah blah blah .” Yuck! I would rather read a grocery list!

And you can do better than that. 

A martial artist once told me, “If you want to win a fight, hit first and hit hard.” With that in mind, here are 30 sentence types that will hit your reader hard at the beginning of your fight for his or her attention. 

My advice to you is to take 30 minutes to compose 30 of your own sentences using each structure and example to guide you. Don’t labour over each one. Some will be easy. Some not so much. 

Once you have your list of 30 kickass sentences, copy and paste your own sentences into the Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker to check for errors .

Of course, you should become a member  of the Virtual Writing Tutor first–if you aren’t one already–because then the system will save your sentences to your profile for you to review later. (Yes, membership is 100% free, and no, we don’t send spam.)

1. Not this, but that.

Example: A moral code is not a hindrance to true success– it’s a necessity.

Structure :   ____ is not a ______ — it’s a _______.

Comment:   Say what something is not (or should not be) so that you can say what it is (or should be). Notice the dash. It joins two short sentences, one negative and one affirmative. You can join your sentences with a semicolon or a comma* if you prefer.

*Strictly speaking, using a comma to join two sentences is usually called a comma splice error, but because the sentences are short, your reader will will interpret the sentence as a stylistic sentence rather than a comma splice error.

2.  Use “ better off than ” to highlight an advantage.

Example : A society with minimal restrictions on the expression of ideas and opinions is better off than a society with a propensity to censor.

Example : A person with talent is better off than a person with training.

Structure : ________is better off than __________.

Comment:   The phrase “better than” compares two things directly, whereas the phrase “better off than” compares starting points. It tells the reader that one has an advantage the other doesn’t have. 

3. Compare adjectives with “ being ___ is better than being ___ “

Example : Being realistic is better than being heedlessly optimistic.

Structure:   Being _______ is better than being ________.

Comment: Nouns are easy to compare, but when we compare adjectives we need the word “being” in front of them.  This structure makes short, punchy claims easy to write, which make it easy for your reader to keep reading. 

4. Show equality with “ just as .”

Example : Apathy is just as harmful to humans as a physical disease .

Structure : ____ is just as _______ as _______.

Comment : If you are asked to discuss to two things and give your opinion, it can be a good idea to show how two things are equal in way before getting into their differences.  

5. Introduce alternatives with “ between ___ and ___ .”

Example : Between the nation state and the individual, the nation state is more important by far.

Structure: Between X and Y, X is best .

Comment: By offering two alternatives and then naming the first alternative again with a claim to its superiority, you create a sentence with a repeated element. The repetition creates an impact by making the repeated element more memorable. Poetry and song lyrics use repetition with this same intention.

6. Announce your plan to categorize with “ fit into a range of .”

Example : Courageous deeds fit into a range of categories.

Structure:   Xs fit into a range of categories.  

Comment: After an opening sentence like this, you must keep your promise to categorize examples of “courageous deeds” into multiple types. 

7. Say how something resists categorization with “ go beyond .”

Example : Dreams go beyond career choices and material desires .

Structure: Xs go beyond Ys and Zs.  

Comment:  Notice how the three items in the example are all plurals. Keep your items parallel when using this sentence structure. Also, notice how saying dreams go beyond  make dreams bigger and more important than the other items mentioned. Readers will be curious how. Don’t disappoint. 

8. Say where concepts originate.

Example: Established values in a society originate in culture, religion, and the hopes and dreams that a country was founded upon.

Plural Structure:   Xs originate in Y and Z. 

Singular Structure:   X originates in Y and Z.

Comment : Saying where something originates opens the door to illustrations from the past. An essay with a first sentence like this will practically write itself.

9. Show surprising resilience with “ even with .”

Example:   Even with the divorce rate of 50% Americans remain dedicated to the idea of family and community.

Example : Despite a string of serious allegations, voters continue to support their president. 

Structure : Even with / Despite _______,   Xs remain _________.

Comment : Sentences that show us the surprising resilience of a state of affairs despite a factor that works against it make readers curious about why it is so.  Make no mistake. Notice “even with” introduces past and present situations, while “even if” tells the reader about the future.   

10. Virtually disappeared .

Example: Good manners have virtually disappeared from our self-centered world.

Structure: ___ has virtually disappeared. 

Comment: “Virtually” means “nearly or almost.”  If you say that good manners have disappeared, your reader may say to him or herself, “Nonsense! I have good manners.” If this happens, you will have an uphill battle on your hands. Your reader will resist you. But if you say  that good manners have virtually disappeared, that is much harder to contradict and should arouse curiosity instead.

11. Imagine a world without something.

Example: Imagine a world without the light bulb, without civil rights, or without the personal computer.

Structure: Imagine a world without ___, without ___, or without ___. 

Comment: Imagining a different world arouses the reader’s imagination and curiosity. All you have to do after a sentence like this is to offer illustrations how life would be different. Easy. 

12. Say what is important to do before taking action.

Example: It is very important to attempt to understand people’s motivations and circumstances before judging their actions.

Structure:   It is very important to ____ before _____.

Comment:   This is a way of telling your reader what to do without directly telling your reader what to do. You merely point out what to do first. 

13. Say what someone did and how he or she did it with “ through .”

Example: Lincoln, through the force of his character and his knack for politics, kept the United States united and ended 250 years of slavery.

Structure:  X, through the ______ of his/her character, ________.

Comment: This sentence is very useful for making claims about people who have shown leadership or talent in the past. By painting a portrait of a great person, you will activate your reader’s memory and imagination. 

14. Say how most people agree that…

Example: Most people agree that the amount of preparation is proportional to the degree of success for any endeavor.

Structure:    Most people agree that ____.

Comment: If you say, “all people agree that” or “all people know that,” your reader will resist you because it will sound like an exaggeration. Using the words “most people” still sounds bold, but it makes your claim sound less extreme.

15. Say how an idea “ manifests itself .”

Example: Nowadays, creativity manifests itself endlessly, in all fields of study.

Structure: Nowadays, _________ manifests itself, in _______.

Comment: “Manifests itself” is just another way of saying “appears,” but it sounds more active and impressive. The adverb “endlessly” isn’t an essential part of this structure. It is not an exaggeration in the example sentence. I think it is true. We live in a very creative age. 

16. Say what experts have observed  or noticed.

Example: Philosophers and scientists have observed that perspective colors perception.

Structure:  ______ have observed _____.

Comment:   This is a useful alternative to the word “said.” When you say that experts have observed something, they have seen it and talked about it.  Notice how “to observe” is a little ambiguous. It can mean strictly “to watch and see,” but it is often used to mean “said.” The ambiguity prevents the reader from thinking, “Oh, yeah? Really? Where have they said that? Cite your sources!” Ambiguity at the beginning of your essay reduces resistance to your initial claim and keeps your reader reading. 

17. Say how reflecting on something often leads to something else.

Example: Reflecting on the condition of modern society often leads to the question, have we become overly cynical and desensitized?

Structure: Reflecting on _____ often leads to the question ______?

Comment: When you tell your reader reflection leads to curiosity about something, your reader will reflect and become curious. Kickass!

18. Claim that a virtue leads to harm.

Example: Sometimes the realization of one’s personal goals can cost another theirs.

Structure:  Sometimes  _______ leads to ________. 

Comment: The irony that a good thing leads to a bad thing for others will arouse your reader’s sympathy and moral indignation. This sentence structure is a powerful first sentence in an essay. 

19. Say that the world once believed something.

Example: The world once believed in things that we now find either horrifying or ridiculous.

Structure:   The world once believed ______.

Comment:   This sentence flatters your reader that he or she is not so stupid as the stupid people in the past, with their ridiculous ideas. Your readers will like the way you make them feel good about themselves. 

20. Say how the greater part of something depends upon something.

Example: The greater part of our happiness or misery depends more upon disposition than circumstances.

Structure:    The greater part of _____ depends more upon _____ than _____.

Comment:  This is a very versatile structure that immediately spurs thought-provoking reflection. You could start an essay about success by saying, “ The greater part of success depends more upon luck than skill. ” AN essay about happiness could begin, “ The greater part of happiness depends more upon a hopeful sense of progress than upon the satisfaction of past achievement.”

21. Introduce a criticism by saying X is often accused of something.

Example: The media is often accused of sensationalism and outright bias.

Structure: _______ is often accused of ________.

Comment:  This sentence makes the accusation sound unfair. It will arouse sympathy and moral indignation in your reader. 

22. State a universal need.

Example: The need to belong is universal.

Structure: _______ is universal. 

Comment: There are many things that are universal. Use this structure to tell your reader. 

23. Claim that something “ seems straightforward .”

Example: The purpose of education these days seems to be a straightforward one.

Structure: _____ seems straightforward. 

Comment:  These are two useful words that when placed side-by-side become even more useful. “Seem” suggests that things could be different than they appear. This arouses curiosity. “Straightforward” suggests simplicity. We all want to be rescued from confusion and excessive complexity. 

24. Declare that something “ has been debated for ages .”

Example: The role of government has been debated for ages without any concrete answer being offered.

Structure:  _____ has been debated for ages.

Comment: When you start an essay like that, I’m expecting that you will settle the debate. Keep your promise. 

25. Reflect on “ an inherent part of the human psyche .”

Example: The search for answers to all of life’s mysteries is an inherent part of the human psyche.

Structure:   _____  an inherent part of the human psyche. 

Comment:  There are lots of things that are inherent to the human psyche. Memorise this structure. It could be useful to you.

26. Claim that there is little or no correlation to something.

Example: The truth and facts have little or no correlation to what is popular or mainstream.

Structure:  _____ have little or no correlation to ______.

Comment:  Oh, really? Not connected? Do tell. This sentence is bold and arouses my curiosity. It will arouse your reader’s curiosity also. 

27. There can be no doubt .

Example: There can be no doubt that problems will continue to plague humanity far into the future, problems as diverse as the people they afflict.

Structure:   There can be no doubt that ______.

Comment: People are attracted to certainty. Offer some to your reader. 

28. Tell us that “ nobody is free from ” something.

Example: Today, nobody is free from the demands or expectations of others, whether one is a toddler and expected to walk by certain age or a father expected to provide a comfortable life for his family.

Structure:   Nobody is free from _______.

Comment:  Everybody wants to be free. It is unfair that people should be unfree. Every reader will want to keep reading after the first four words. 

29. What forever remains ? Tell us.

Example: Two opposing ideals remain forever in competition.

Structure:  _____ remain forever _____.

Comment:  Putting the word “forever” after the word “remain” seems a little old-fashioned and formal. It will make you sound like an authority on the subject. 

30. What “ might never have come to fruition ?”

Example: Without passion optimism and the willingness to believe in the past, many accomplishments in this world might never have come to fruition.

Structure:  Without _____, _____ might never have come to fruition. 

Comment: This blog post might never have come to fruition if I hadn’t bought “ 30 Model Essays ” and been impressed with the first lines of each essay.  I hope you found it useful. 

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How to Start a College Essay Perfectly

College Essays

If you've been sitting in front of a blank screen, unsure of exactly how to start a personal statement for college, then believe me—I feel your pain. A great college essay introduction is key to making your essay stand out, so there's a lot of pressure to get it right.

Luckily, being able to craft the perfect beginning for your admissions essay is just like many other writing skills— something you can get better at with practice and by learning from examples.

In this article, I'll walk you through exactly how to start a college essay. We'll cover what makes a great personal statement introduction and how the first part of your essay should be structured. We'll also look at several great examples of essay beginnings and explain why they work, how they work, and what you can learn from them.

What Is the College Essay Introduction For?

Before we talk about how to start a college essay, let's discuss the role of the introduction. Just as your college essay is your chance to introduce yourself to the admissions office of your target college, your essay's beginning is your chance to introduce your writing.

Wait, Back Up—Why Do Colleges Want Personal Statements?

In general, college essays make it easier to get to know the parts of you not in your transcript —these include your personality, outlook on life, passions, and experiences.

You're not writing for yourself but for a very specific kind of reader. Picture it: your audience is an admissions officer who has read thousands and thousands of essays. This person is disposed to be friendly and curious, but if she hasn't already seen it all she's probably seen a good portion of it.

Your essay's job is to entertain and impress this person, and to make you memorable so you don't merely blend into the sea of other personal statements. Like all attempts at charm, you must be slightly bold and out of the ordinary—but you must also stay away from crossing the line into offensiveness or bad taste.

What Role Does the Introduction Play in a College Essay?

The personal statement introduction is basically the wriggly worm that baits the hook to catch your reader. It's vital to grab attention from the get-go—the more awake and eager your audience is, the more likely it is that what you say will really land.

How do you go about crafting an introduction that successfully hooks your reader? Let's talk about how to structure the beginning of your college essay.

How to Structure a Personal Statement Introduction

To see how the introduction fits into an essay, let's look at the big structural picture first and then zoom in.

College Essay Structure Overview

Even though they're called essays, personal statements are really more like a mix of a short story and a philosophy or psychology class that's all about you.

Usually, how this translates is that you start with a really good (and very short) story about something arresting, unusual, or important that happened to you. This is not to say that the story has to be about something important or unusual in the grand scheme of things—it just has to be a moment that stands out to you as defining in some way, or an explanation of why you are the way you are . You then pivot to an explanation of why this story is an accurate illustration of one of your core qualities, values, or beliefs.

The story typically comes in the first half of the essay, and the insightful explanation comes second —but, of course, all rules were made to be broken, and some great essays flip this more traditional order.

College Essay Introduction Components

Now, let's zero in on the first part of the college essay. What are the ingredients of a great personal statement introduction? I'll list them here and then dissect them one by one in the next section:

• A killer first sentence: This hook grabs your readers' attention and whets their appetite for your story.
• A vivid, detailed story that illustrates your eventual insight: To make up for how short your story will be, you must insert effective sensory information to immerse the reader.
• An insightful pivot toward the greater point you're making in your essay: This vital piece of the essay connects the short story part to the part where you explain what the experience has taught you about yourself, how you've matured, and how it has ultimately shaped you as a person.

How to Write a College Essay Introduction

Here's a weird secret that's true for most written work: just because it'll end up at the beginning doesn't mean you have to write it first. For example, in this case, you can't know what your killer first sentence will be until you've figured out the following details:

• The story you want to tell
• The point you want that story to make
• The trait/maturity level/background about you that your essay will reveal

So my suggestion is to work in reverse order! Writing your essay will be much easier if you can figure out the entirety of it first and then go back and work out exactly how it should start.

This means that before you can craft your ideal first sentence, the way the short story experience of your life will play out on the page, and the perfect pivoting moment that transitions from your story to your insight, you must work out a general idea about which life event you will share and what you expect that life event to demonstrate to the reader about you and the kind of person you are.

If you're having trouble coming up with a topic, check out our guide on brainstorming college essay ideas . It might also be helpful to read our guides to specific application essays, such as picking your best Common App prompt and writing a perfect University of California personal statement .

In the next sections of this article, I'll talk about how to work backwards on the introduction, moving from bigger to smaller elements: starting with the first section of the essay in general and then honing your pivot sentence and your first sentence.

How to Write the First Section of Your College Essay

In a 500-word essay, this section will take up about the first half of the essay and will mostly consist of a brief story that illuminates a key experience, an important character trait, a moment of transition or transformation, or a step toward maturity.

Once you've figured out your topic and zeroed in on the experience you want to highlight in the beginning of your essay, here are 2 great approaches to making it into a story:

• Talking it out, storyteller style (while recording yourself): Imagine that you're sitting with a group of people at a campfire, or that you're stuck on a long flight sitting next to someone you want to befriend. Now tell that story. What does someone who doesn't know you need to know in order for the story to make sense? What details do you need to provide to put them in the story with you? What background information do they need in order to understand the stakes or importance of the story?
• Record yourself telling your story to friends and then chatting about it: What do they need clarified? What questions do they have? Which parts of your story didn't make sense or follow logically for them? Do they want to know more, or less? Is part of your story interesting to them but not interesting to you? Is a piece of your story secretly boring, even though you think it's interesting?

Later, as you listen to the recorded story to try to get a sense of how to write it, you can also get a sense of the tone with which you want to tell your story. Are you being funny as you talk? Sad? Trying to shock, surprise, or astound your audience? The way you most naturally tell your story is the way you should write it.

After you've done this storyteller exercise, write down the salient points of what you learned. What is the story your essay will tell? What is the point about your life, point of view, or personality it will make? What tone will you tell it with? Sketch out a detailed outline so that you can start filling in the pieces as we work through how to write the introductory sections.

How to Write the First Sentence of Your College Essay

In general, your essay's first sentence should be either a mini-cliffhanger that sets up a situation the reader would like to see resolved, or really lush scene-setting that situates your audience in a place and time they can readily visualize. The former builds expectations and evokes curiosity, and the latter stimulates the imagination and creates a connection with the author. In both cases, you hit your goal of greater reader engagement.

Now, I'm going to show you how these principles work for all types of first sentences, whether in college essays or in famous works of fiction.

First Sentence Idea 1: Line of Quoted Direct Speech

"Mum, I'm gay." ( Ahmad Ashraf '17 for Connecticut College )

The experience of coming out is raw and emotional, and the issue of LGBTQ rights is an important facet of modern life. This three-word sentence immediately sums up an enormous background of the personal and political.

"You can handle it, Matt," said Mr. Wolf, my fourth-grade band teacher, as he lifted the heavy tuba and put it into my arms. ( Matt Coppo '07 for Hamilton College )

This sentence conjures up a funny image—we can immediately picture the larger adult standing next to a little kid holding a giant tuba. It also does a little play on words: "handle it" can refer to both the literal tuba Matt is being asked to hold and the figurative stress of playing the instrument.

First Sentence Idea 2: Punchy Short Sentence With One Grabby Detail

I live alone—I always have since elementary school. ( Kevin Zevallos '16 for Connecticut College )

This opener definitely makes us want to know more. Why was he alone? Where were the protective grown-ups who surround most kids? How on earth could a little kid of 8-10 years old survive on his own?

I have old hands. ( First line from a student in Stanford's class of 2012 )

There's nothing but questions here. What are "old" hands? Are they old-looking? Arthritic? How has having these hands affected the author?

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. (Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre )

There's immediately a feeling of disappointment and the stifled desire for action here. Who wanted to go for a walk? And why was this person being prevented from going?

First Sentence Idea 3: Lyrical, Adjective-Rich Description of a Setting

We met for lunch at El Burrito Mexicano, a tiny Mexican lunch counter under the Red Line "El" tracks. ( Ted Mullin '06 for Carleton College )

Look at how much specificity this sentence packs in less than 20 words. Each noun and adjective is chosen for its ability to convey yet another detail. "Tiny" instead of "small" gives readers a sense of being uncomfortably close to other people and sitting at tables that don't quite have enough room for the plates. "Counter" instead of "restaurant" lets us immediately picture this work surface, the server standing behind it, and the general atmosphere. "Under the tracks" is a location deeply associated with being run down, borderline seedy, and maybe even dangerous.

Maybe it's because I live in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where Brett Favre draws more of a crowd on Sunday than any religious service, cheese is a staple food, it's sub-zero during global warming, current "fashions" come three years after they've hit it big with the rest of the world, and where all children by the age of ten can use a 12-gauge like it's their job. ( Riley Smith '12 for Hamilton College )

This sentence manages to hit every stereotype about Wisconsin held by outsiders—football, cheese, polar winters, backwardness, and guns—and this piling on gives us a good sense of place while also creating enough hyperbole to be funny. At the same time, the sentence raises the tantalizing question: maybe what is because of Wisconsin?

High, high above the North Pole, on the first day of 1969, two professors of English Literature approached each other at a combined velocity of 1200 miles per hour. (David Lodge, Changing Places )

This sentence is structured in the highly specific style of a math problem, which makes it funny. However, at the heart of this sentence lies a mystery that grabs the reader's interest: why on earth would these two people be doing this?

First Sentence Idea 4: Counterintuitive Statement

To avoid falling into generalities with this one, make sure you're really creating an argument or debate with your counterintuitive sentence. If no one would argue with what you've said, then you aren't making an argument. ("The world is a wonderful place" and "Life is worth living" don't make the cut.)

If string theory is really true, then the entire world is made up of strings, and I cannot tie a single one. ( Joanna '18 for Johns Hopkins University )

There's a great switch here from the sub-microscopic strings that make up string theory to the actual physical strings you can tie in real life. This sentence hints that the rest of the essay will continue playing with linked, albeit not typically connected, concepts.

All children, except one, grow up. (J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan )

In just six words, this sentence upends everything we think we know about what happens to human beings.

First Sentence Idea 5: The End—Making the Rest of the Essay a Flashback

I've recently come to the realization that community service just isn't for me. ( Kyla '19 for Johns Hopkins University )

This seems pretty bold—aren't we supposed to be super into community service? Is this person about to declare herself to be totally selfish and uncaring about the less fortunate? We want to know the story that would lead someone to this kind of conclusion.

Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. (Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude )

So many amazing details here. Why is the Colonel being executed? What does "discovering" ice entail? How does he go from ice-discoverer to military commander of some sort to someone condemned to capital punishment?

First Sentence Idea 6: Direct Question to the Reader

To work well, your question should be especially specific, come out of left field, or pose a surprising hypothetical.

How does an agnostic Jew living in the Diaspora connect to Israel? ( Essay #3 from Carleton College's sample essays )

This is a thorny opening, raising questions about the difference between being an ethnic Jew and practicing the religion of Judaism, and the obligations of Jews who live outside of Israel to those who live in Israel and vice versa. There's a lot of meat to this question, setting up a philosophically interesting, politically important, and personally meaningful essay.

While traveling through the daily path of life, have you ever stumbled upon a hidden pocket of the universe? ( First line from a student in Stanford's class of 2012 )

There's a dreamy and sci-fi element to this first sentence, as it tries to find the sublime ("the universe") inside the prosaic ("daily path of life").

First Sentence Idea 7: Lesson You Learned From the Story You're Telling

One way to think about how to do this kind of opening sentence well is to model it on the morals that ended each Aesop's fable . The lesson you learned should be slightly surprising (not necessarily intuitive) and something that someone else might disagree with.

Perhaps it wasn't wise to chew and swallow a handful of sand the day I was given my first sandbox, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. ( Meagan Spooner '07 for Hamilton College )

The best part of this hilarious sentence is that even in retrospect, eating a handful of sand is only possibly an unwise idea—a qualifier achieved through that great "perhaps." So does that mean it was wise in at least some way to eat the sand? The reader wants to know more.

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina )

This immediately sets readers to mentally flip through every unhappy family they've ever known to double-check the narrator's assertion. Did he draw the right conclusion here? How did he come to this realization? The implication that he will tell us all about some dysfunctional drama also has a rubbernecking draw.

How to Write a Pivot Sentence in Your College Essay

This is the place in your essay where you go from small to big—from the life experience you describe in detail to the bigger point this experience illustrates about your world and yourself.

Typically, the pivot sentence will come at the end of your introductory section, about halfway through the essay. I say sentence, but this section could be more than one sentence (though ideally no longer than two or three).

So how do you make the turn? Usually you indicate in your pivot sentence itself that you are moving from one part of the essay to another. This is called signposting, and it's a great way to keep readers updated on where they are in the flow of the essay and your argument.

Here are three ways to do this, with real-life examples from college essays published by colleges.

Pivot Idea 1: Expand the Time Frame

In this pivot, you gesture out from the specific experience you describe to the overarching realization you had during it. Think of helper phrases such as "that was the moment I realized" and "never again would I."

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation. ( Stephen '19 for Johns Hopkins University )

This is a pretty great pivot, neatly connecting the story Stephen's been telling (about having to break into a car on a volunteering trip) and his general reliance on his own resourcefulness and ability to roll with whatever life throws at him. It's a double bonus that he accomplishes the pivot with a play on the word "click," which here means both the literal clicking of the car door latch and the figurative clicking his brain does. Note also how the pivot crystallizes the moment of epiphany through the word "suddenly," which implies instant insight.

But in that moment I realized that the self-deprecating jokes were there for a reason. When attempting to climb the mountain of comedic success, I didn't just fall and then continue on my journey, but I fell so many times that I befriended the ground and realized that the middle of the metaphorical mountain made for a better campsite. Not because I had let my failures get the best of me, but because I had learned to make the best of my failures. (Rachel Schwartzbaum '19 for Connecticut College)

This pivot similarly focuses on a "that moment" of illuminated clarity. In this case, it broadens Rachel's experience of stage fright before her standup comedy sets to the way she has more generally not allowed failures to stop her progress—and has instead been able to use them as learning experiences. Not only does she describe her humor as "self-deprecating," but she also demonstrates what she means with that great "befriended the ground" line.

It was on this first educational assignment that I realized how much could be accomplished through an animal education program—more, in some cases, than the aggregate efforts of all of the rehabilitators. I found that I had been naive in my assumption that most people knew as much about wildlife as I did, and that they shared my respect for animals. ( J.P. Maloney '07 for Hamilton College )

This is another classically constructed pivot, as J.P. segues from his negative expectations about using a rehabilitated wild owl as an educational animal to his understanding of how much this kind of education could contribute to forming future environmentalists and nature lovers. The widening of scope happens at once as we go from a highly specific "first educational assignment" to the more general realization that "much" could be accomplished through these kinds of programs.

Pivot Idea 2: Link the Described Experience With Others

In this pivot, you draw a parallel between the life event that you've been describing in your very short story and other events that were similar in some significant way. Helpful phrases include "now I see how x is really just one of the many x 's I have faced," "in a way, x is a good example of the x -like situations I see daily," and "and from then on every time I ..."

This state of discovery is something I strive for on a daily basis. My goal is to make all the ideas in my mind fit together like the gears of a Swiss watch. Whether it's learning a new concept in linear algebra, talking to someone about a programming problem, or simply zoning out while I read, there is always some part of my day that pushes me towards this place of cohesion: an idea that binds together some set of the unsolved mysteries in my mind. ( Aubrey Anderson '19 for Tufts University )

After cataloging and detailing the many interesting thoughts that flow through her brain in a specific hour, Aubrey uses the pivot to explain that this is what every waking hour is like for her "on a daily basis." She loves learning different things and finds a variety of fields fascinating. And her pivot lets us know that her example is a demonstration of how her mind works generally.

This was the first time I've been to New Mexico since he died. Our return brought so much back for me. I remembered all the times we'd visited when I was younger, certain events highlighted by the things we did: Dad haggling with the jewelry sellers, his minute examination of pots at a trading post, the affection he had for chilies. I was scared that my love for the place would be tainted by his death, diminished without him there as my guide. That fear was part of what kept my mother and me away for so long. Once there, though, I was relieved to realize that Albuquerque still brings me closer to my father. ( Essay #1 from Carleton College's sample essays )

In this pivot, one very painful experience of visiting a place filled with sorrowful memories is used as a way to think about "all the other times" the author had been to New Mexico. The previously described trip after the father's death pivots into a sense of the continuity of memory. Even though he is no longer there to "guide," the author's love for the place itself remains.

Pivot Idea 3: Extract and Underline a Trait or Value

In this type of pivot, you use the experience you've described to demonstrate its importance in developing or zooming in on one key attribute. Here are some ways to think about making this transition: "I could not have done it without characteristic y , which has helped me through many other difficult moments," or "this is how I came to appreciate the importance of value z, both in myself and in those around me."

My true reward of having Stanley is that he opened the door to the world of botany. I would never have invested so much time learning about the molecular structure or chemical balance of plants if not for taking care of him. ( Michaela '19 for Johns Hopkins University )

In this tongue-in-cheek essay in which Michaela writes about Stanley, a beloved cactus, as if "he" has human qualities and is her child, the pivot explains what makes this plant so meaningful to its owner. Without having to "take care of him," Michaela "would never have invested so much time learning" about plant biology. She has a deep affinity for the natural sciences and attributes her interest at least partly to her cactus.

By leaving me free to make mistakes and chase wild dreams, my father was always able to help ground me back in reality. Personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments are all values that are etched into my mind, just as they are within my father's. ( Olivia Rabbitt '16 for Connecticut College )

In Olivia's essay about her father's role in her life, the pivot discusses his importance by explaining his deep impact on her values. Olivia has spent the story part of her essay describing her father's background and their relationship. Now, she is free to show how without his influence, she would not be so strongly committed to "personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments."

College Essay Introduction Examples

We've collected many examples of college essays published by colleges and offered a breakdown of how several of them are put together . Now, let's check out a couple of examples of actual college essay beginnings to show you how and why they work.

Sample Intro 1

A blue seventh place athletic ribbon hangs from my mantel. Every day, as I walk into my living room, the award mockingly congratulates me as I smile. Ironically, the blue seventh place ribbon resembles the first place ribbon in color; so, if I just cover up the tip of the seven, I may convince myself that I championed the fourth heat. But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place.

Two years ago, I joined the no-cut swim team. That winter, my coach unexpectedly assigned me to swim the 500 freestyle. After stressing for hours about swimming 20 laps in a competition, I mounted the blocks, took my mark, and swam. Around lap 14, I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. "I must be winning!" I thought to myself. However, as I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans, I looked up at the score board. I had finished my race in last place. In fact, I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes.

(From "The Unathletic Department" by Meghan '17 for Johns Hopkins University )

Why Intro Sample 1 Works

Here are some of the main reasons that this essay's introduction is super effective.

#1: It's Got a Great First Sentence

The sentence is short but still does some scene setting with the descriptive "blue" and the location "from my mantel." It introduces a funny element with "seventh place"—why would that bad of a showing even get a ribbon? It dangles information just out of reach, making the reader want to know more: what was this an award for? Why does this definitively non-winning ribbon hang in such a prominent place of pride?

#2: It Has Lots of Detail

In the intro, we get physical actions: "cover up the tip," "mounted the blocks," "looked around at the other lanes," "lifted my arms up," and "stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes." We also get words conveying emotion: "mockingly congratulates me as I smile," "unexpectedly assigned," and "stressing for hours." Finally, we get descriptive specificity in the precise word choice: "from my mantel" and "my living room" instead of simply "in my house," and "lap 14" instead of "toward the end of the race."

#3: It Explains the Stakes

Even though everyone can imagine the lap pool, not everyone knows exactly what the "500 freestyle" race is. Meghan elegantly explains the difficulty by describing herself freaking out over "swimming 20 laps in a competition," which helps us to picture the swimmer going back and forth many times.

#4: It Has Great Storytelling

We basically get a sports commentary play-by-play here. Even though we already know the conclusion—Meghan came in 7th—she still builds suspense by narrating the race from her point of view as she was swimming it. She's nervous for a while, and then she starts the race.

Close to the end, she starts to think everything is going well ("I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. 'I must be winning!' I thought to myself."). Everything builds to an expected moment of great triumph ("I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans") but ends in total defeat ("I had finished my race in last place").

Not only that, but the mildly clichéd sports hype is hilariously undercut by reality ("I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes").

#5: It Uses a Pivot Sentence

This essay uses the time expansion method of pivoting: "But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place." Coming last in the race was something that happened once, but the award is now an everyday experience of humility.

The rest of the essay explores what it means for Meghan to constantly see this reminder of failure and to transform it into a sense of acceptance of her imperfections. Notice also that in this essay, the pivot comes before the main story, helping us "hear" the narrative in the way she wants us to.

Sample Intro 2

"Biogeochemical. It's a word, I promise!" There are shrieks and shouts in protest and support. Unacceptable insults are thrown, degrees and qualifications are questioned, I think even a piece of my grandmother's famously flakey parantha whizzes past my ear. Everyone is too lazy to take out a dictionary (or even their phones) to look it up, so we just hash it out. And then, I am crowned the victor, a true success in the Merchant household. But it is fleeting, as the small, glossy, plastic tiles, perfectly connected to form my winning word, are snatched out from under me and thrown in a pile with all the disgraced, "unwinning" tiles as we mix for our next game of Bananagrams. It's a similar donnybrook, this time ending with my father arguing that it is okay to use "Rambo" as a word (it totally is not).

Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life: from silly games like Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite "word game," to stunted communication between opposing grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language; from trying to understand the cheesemonger behind the counter with a deep southern drawl (I just want some Camembert!), to shaping a script to make people laugh.

Words are moving and changing; they have influence and substance.

From an Essay by Shaan Merchant ‘19 for Tufts University

Why Intro Sample 2 Works

Let's take a look at what qualities make this essay's introduction particularly memorable.

With the first sentence, we are immediately thrust into the middle of the action —into an exciting part of an argument about whether "biogeochemical" is really a word. We're also immediately challenged. Is this a word? Have I ever heard it before? Does a scientific neologism count as a word?

#2: It Shows Rather Than Tells

Since the whole essay is going to be about words, it makes sense for Shaan to demonstrate his comfort with all different kinds of language:

• Complex, elevated vocabulary, such as "biogeochemical" and "donnybrook"
• Foreign words, such as "parantha" and "Camembert"
• Colorful descriptive words, such as "shrieks and shouts," "famously flakey, "whizzes past," and "hash it out"
• "Fake" words, such as "unwinning" and "Rambo"

What's great is that Shaan is able to seamlessly mix the different tones and registers these words imply, going from cerebral to funny and back again.

#3: It Uses a Pivot Sentence

This essay uses the value-extraction style of pivot: "Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life." After we see an experience linking Shaan's clear love of his family with an interest in word games, he clarifies that this is exactly what the essay will be about—using a very straightforward pivoting sentence.

#4: It Piles On Examples to Avoid Vagueness

The danger of this kind of pivot sentence is slipping into vague, uninformative statements, such as "I love words." To avoid making a generalization the tells us nothing, the essay builds a list of examples of times when Shaan saw the way that words connect people: games ("Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite ‘word game,'"), his mixed-language family ("grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language"), encounters with strangers ("from trying to understand the cheesemonger"), and finally the more active experience of performing ("shaping a script to make people laugh").

But the essay stops short of giving so many examples that the reader drowns. I'd say three to five examples is a good range—as long as they're all different kinds of the same thing.

The Bottom Line: How to Start a College Essay

The college essay introduction should hook your reader and make her want to know more and read more.

Good personal statement introductions will contain the following features:

• A killer first line
• A detailed description of an experience from your life
• A pivot to the bigger picture, in which you explain why and how this experience has shaped you, your point of view, and/or your values.

You don't have to write the introduction first, and you certainly don't have to write your first sentence first . Instead, start by developing your story by telling it out loud to a friend. You can then work on your first sentence and your pivot.

The first sentence should either be short, punchy, and carry some ambiguity or questions, or be a detailed and beautiful description setting an easily pictured scene. The pivot, on the other hand, should answer the question, "How does the story you've told connect to a larger truth or insight about you?"

What's Next?

Wondering what to make of the Common Application essay prompts? We have the complete list of this year's Common App prompts with explanations of what each is asking as well as a guide to picking the Common App prompt that's perfect for you .

Thinking of applying to the University of California system? Check out our detailed guide on how to approach their essay prompts and craft your ideal UC essay .

If you're in the middle of the essay-writing process, you'll want to see our suggestions on what essay pitfalls to avoid .

Working on the rest of your college application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

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Creative Writing Essays: Tips, Examples, and Strategies

Carla johnson.

• June 14, 2023
• How to Guides

Creative writing essays are a unique type of academic writing that lets you show your creativity and imagination while still following the rules of academic writing. Creative writing essays are not like other types of essays that rely heavily on research and facts. Instead, they depend on your ability to tell a story, create vivid images, and make your readers feel something.

Writing creatively is important for anyone who wants to express themselves in a unique and interesting way, not just fiction and poetry writers. Whether you are writing a personal essay , a descriptive essay, or an argumentative essay, adding creative elements can help make your writing more interesting and memorable.

In this article, we’ll talk about what to do and what not to do when writing a creative essay . We’ll look at tips, examples, and ways to write well. By following these rules, you can learn how to write creatively while still meeting the requirements of academic writing.

What You'll Learn

Understanding Creative Writing Essays

To write a good creative writing essay, you need to know how this unique type of academic writing works.

A creative writing essay is a type of academic essay that uses elements of creative writing, like telling a story, building characters, and using literary devices. The goal of a creative writing essay is to get the reader’s attention and hold it while still getting the message or argument across.

There are different kinds of creative writing essays, such as personal essays, essays that describe something, and essays that tell a story . Each of these types of essays needs a different way of writing them, but they all need to include creative elements.

Dos of Creative Writing Essays

Here are some dos of creative writing essays to keep in mind when writing:

1. Choosing a strong and interesting topic: Choose a topic that is interesting to you and that will engage your readers. This will help to keep your writing focused and engaging.

2. Developing a clear and engaging thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly convey the message or argument you are making in your essay . It should be engaging and capture the reader’s attention.

3. Creating well-rounded and dynamic characters: Characters are an important part of any creative writing essay. Develop characters that are well-rounded and dynamic, with their own unique personalities, motivations, and flaws.

4. Using sensory details to enhance the story: Sensory details, such as sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures, can help to bring yourwriting to life and create a more immersive experience for your readers. Use vivid and descriptive language to evoke the senses and create a more vivid world for your readers to imagine.

5. Incorporating dialogue effectively: Dialogue can be a powerful tool for conveying information and developing characters. Use dialogue to reveal character traits, advance the plot, and create tension.

6. Utilizing literary devices to enhance the story: Literary devices like metaphors, similes, symbols, and images can make a story more interesting and help the reader understand it better. Use these tools sparingly and on purpose to make your effect stronger.

By using these dos in your creative writing essay, you can make it more interesting, easy to remember, and effective.

To write a good creative writing essay, you need to use your imagination, skills, and knowledge. By learning the basics of this unique type of writing and following the dos in this article, you can make a more interesting and effective creative writing essay. Remember to pick a strong and interesting topic, make characters that are well-rounded, use details and dialogue well, and use literary devices to make the story better.

Don’ts of Creative Writing Essays

To avoid common pitfalls when writing a creative writing essay, here are some don’ts to keep in mind:

1. Overusing adjectives and adverbs: While descriptive language is important in creative writing, overusing adjectives and adverbs can make your writing feel cluttered and overwhelming.

2. Using cliches and predictable plot lines: Creative writing is all about bringing something new and fresh to the table. Using cliches and predictable plot lines can make your writing feel unoriginal and uninspired.

3. Writing flat and uninteresting characters: Characters are an important part of any creative writing essay. Flat and uninteresting characters can make your writing feel dull and unengaging.

4. Forgetting to revise and edit: Like any form of academic writing, it is important to revise and edit your creative writing essay to ensure that it is polished and error-free.

5. Using weak verbs and passive voice: Weak verbs and passive voice can make your writing feel flat and uninteresting. Use strong and active verbs to create a more dynamic and engaging narrative.

Inspiring Creative Writing Essay Examples

To gain a better understanding of what makes a successful creative writing essay, here are some inspiring examples to analyze:

1. The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

2. “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

3. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

4. “A Good Man is Hard to Find”by Flannery O’Connor

5. “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

6. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber

7. “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield

8. The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

9. The Love Song of J . Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot

10. “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell

By looking at these examples, you can see that symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony are often used in creative writing essays that work well. They also have well-thought-out characters, interesting plots, and language that evokes the senses and helps the reader picture a vivid world.

Each of these examples shows a different side of what it means to be human and helps us learn more about the world around us. These essays show how creative writing can captivate and interest readers, whether it’s about love, death, or what it’s like to be human.

Some of the most important things to learn from these examples are how important it is to have strong characters, use descriptive language well, and use literary devices to make the story better. By looking at these good examples of creative writing essays, writers can learn how to use the same techniques in their own work to make essays that are more interesting and effective.

How to Start a Creative Writing Essay with a Bang

Starting a creative writing essay in a way that captivates your reader is crucial for the success of your essay. Here are some different strategies you can use to start your essay with a bang:

1. Using attention-grabbing hooks to draw in the reader: Start with a provocative statement, a surprising fact, or a rhetorical question to pique the reader’s interest.

2. Crafting a strong opening sentence or paragraph: Create a vivid image or use descriptive language to set the scene and draw the reader into the story.

3. Starting in the middle of the action: Begin your story in the middle of a dramatic or exciting scene to immediately engage your reader.

4. Using an anecdote: Start with a personal anecdote that relates to the theme or message of your essay to draw the reader into your story.

By using attention-grabbing hooks and crafting a strong opening sentence or paragraph, you can hook your reader from the beginning and keep them engaged throughout your essay.

Elements of a Successful Creative Writing Essay

To write a successful creative writing essay, it is important to incorporate certain elements into your writing. Here are some elements to keep in mind:

1. Developing a strong plot and narrative structure: Your essay should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, with a well-developed plot that keeps the reader engaged.

2. Creating compelling and relatable characters: Your characters should be well-rounded, withunique personalities, motivations, and flaws that make them relatable and interesting to the reader.

3. Using descriptive language and sensory details: Use vivid and sensory language to create a world that the reader can imagine and visualize. This can enhance the reading experience and make your writing feel more immersive.

4. Incorporating dialogue and literary devices effectively: Dialogue can be a powerful tool for conveying information and developing characters. Literary devices like metaphor, simile, and symbolism can also be used to enhance the story and create deeper meaning.

5. Crafting a satisfying ending : Your essay should have a satisfying and conclusive ending that ties up loose ends and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

To write a good creative writing essay, you need to use your imagination, skills, and knowledge. Use hooks and a strong first sentence or paragraph to get people interested in your essay right away. To make sure your story is successful, include things like a strong plot and story structure, interesting characters, descriptive language and sensory details, good dialogue and literary devices, and a satisfying ending. With these tips and elements in mind, you can write a powerful and memorable creative writing essay that engages and inspires your readers.

Creative Writing Essay Format

When it comes to formatting a creative writing essay, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

1. Use a standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, in 12-point size.

2. Double-space the text and use 1-inch margins on all sides.

3. Include a header with your name, the title of your essay , and the page number.

4. Use paragraph breaks to separate different ideas or sections of your essay .

5. Use italics or quotation marks to indicate dialogue or emphasize certain words or phrases.

Proper formatting is important to ensure that your work looks professional and is easy to read. By following these guidelines, you can create a polished and well-formatted creative writing essay.

When organizing and structuring your essay , consider using a clear and logical structure. This can include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You may also want to use headings and subheadings to break up your writing into sections and make it easier to follow.

Creative Writing Essay Topics

Generating creative writing essay topics can be a fun and creative process. Here are some brainstorming techniques and examples to help you come up with ideas:

Brainstorming Techniques:

1. Freewriting: Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write down whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling, just write freely.

2. Mind Mapping: Start with a central idea and branch out with related ideas. This can help you visualize connections between ideas and spark new ones.

3. Listing: Make a list of words or phrases that relate to a central theme or idea. This can help you see patterns and connections between ideas.

Examples of Creative Writing Essay Topics:

1. A childhood memory that shaped who you are today.

2. A personal essay about overcoming a challenge.

3. A fictional story set in a dystopian society.

4. A character study of a family member or friend .

5. A descriptive essay about a memorable place .

6. An exploration of a unique hobby or interest.

7. A persuasive essay about a social or political issue .

8. A narrative essay about a journey or adventure .

9. A creative nonfiction essay about a historical event or person.

10. A personal essay about your relationship with nature .

11. A fictional story about a time traveler.

12. An essay about a defining moment in your life .

13. A character study of a famous historical figure .

14. A descriptive essay about a favoritefood or dish.

15. A personal essay about your experience with mental health .

16. A fictional story about a haunted house.

17. A persuasive essay about the importance of education .

18. A narrative essay about a difficult decision you had to make.

19. A creative nonfiction essay about a place that has special meaning to you.

20. A personal essay about your experience with a different culture.

21. A fictional story about a person with a superpower.

22. A character study of a famous author or artist.

23. A descriptive essay about your favorite season.

24. A persuasive essay about the benefits of exercise.

25. A narrative essay about a trip that changed your perspective.

26. A creative nonfiction essay about your first job .

27. A personal essay about your experience with discrimination .

28. A fictional story about a post-apocalyptic world.

29. A character study of a famous musician or athlete.

30. A descriptive essay about a favorite childhood memory.

It is important to choose a topic that is both interesting and manageable. Consider your interests and passions, as well as the audience you are writing for. Remember that a well-chosen topic can make your writing more engaging and effective, while also making the writing process more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Tips for Making Your Creative Writing Essay Interesting

– Using descriptive language and sensory details

– Incorporating conflict and tension into the story

– Developing complex and dynamic characters

– Using humor, irony, or suspense to engage the reader

To make your creative writing essay interesting and engaging, consider the following tips:

1. Use descriptive language and sensory details: Creating a vivid world for the reader to imagine can enhance the reading experience and make your writing more immersive.

2. Incorporate conflict and tension into the story: Conflict drives the narrative forward and creates tension that keeps the reader engaged.

3. Develop complex and dynamic characters: Characters with unique personalities, motivations, and flaws can make your story more relatable and interesting.

4. Use humor, irony, or suspense to engage the reader: Adding a touch of humor, irony, or suspense can make your writing more engaging and keep the reader hooked.

By using these techniques, you can make your creative writing essay more interesting and memorable for your readers.

Revision and Editing Tips for Creative Writing Essays

Revision and editing are important steps in the writing process. Here are some tips for revising and editing your creative writing essay:

1. Take a break: Step away from your writing for a few hours or days to gain a fresh perspective on your work .

2. Read your work out loud: This can help you catch errors and awkward phrasing that may not be immediately apparent when reading silently.

3. Get feedback from others: Share your work with others and ask for constructive criticism and feedback.

4. Look for common mistakes: Pay attention to common mistakes such as grammar and spelling errors, repetition, and inconsistencies.

5.Focus on clarity and conciseness: Ensure that your writing is clear and concise, and that your ideas are presented in a logical and organized manner.

6. Make sure your characters are consistent: Ensure that your characters’ actions, motivations, and personalities are consistent throughout the story.

7. Cut unnecessary words and phrases: Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases to tighten your writing and make it more impactful.

8. Check for pacing: Ensure that your story is paced well and that it moves at a pace that keeps the reader engaged.

9. Pay attention to the ending: Ensure that your ending is satisfying and that it ties up loose ends in a way that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

By revising and editing your creative writing essay, you can improve the overall quality of your work and ensure that it is polished and error-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is a creative writing essay.

A creative writing essay is a type of essay that allows writers to express their creativity and imagination. It can take many forms, including personal essays , short stories, poetry, and more.

2. What are the elements of a creative writing essay?

The elements of a creative writing essay include a strong plot and narrative structure, compelling and relatable characters, descriptive language and sensory details, effective use of dialogue and literary devices, and a satisfying ending.

3. How do I make my creative writing essay interesting?

You can make your creative writing essay interesting by using descriptive language and sensory details, incorporating conflict and tension into the story, developing complex and dynamic characters, and using humor, irony, or suspense to engage the reader.

4. What is the best way to start a creative writing essay?

You can start a creative writing essay with a provocative statement, a surprising fact, or a rhetorical question to pique the reader’s interest. Alternatively, you can create a vivid image or use descriptive language to set the scene and draw the reader into the story.

5. How can I revise and edit my creative writing essay effectively?

To revise and edit your creative writing essay effectively, take a break, read your work out loud, get feedback from others, look for common mistakes, focus on clarity and conciseness, ensure consistency in character development, cut unnecessary words and phrases, check for pacing, and pay attention to the ending.

In conclusion, a creative writing essay is a powerful way to express your creativity and imagination. By incorporating the elements of a strong plot and narrative structure, compelling characters, descriptive language and sensory details, effective use of dialogue and literary devices, and a satisfying ending, you can create a memorable and impactful piece of writing. To make your essay interesting , consider using descriptive language, incorporating conflict and tension, developing complex characters, and using humor, irony, or suspense. When revising and editing your essay, take a break, read your work out loud, get feedback, and pay attention to common mistakes.

We encourage you to start your own creative writing essay and explore the many possibilities that this type of writing offers. Remember to choose a topic that is both interesting and manageable, and to let your creativity and imagination shine through in your writing. With these tips and techniques in mind, you can create a powerful and memorable creative writing essay that engages and inspires your readers.

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• 7 Techniques from Creative Writing You Can Use to Improve Your Essays

You wouldn’t have thought that essays have much in common with creative writing.

Creative writing, by definition, involves being ‘creative’: making things up, letting your imagination run wild. Essays are about being factual and objective, communicating ideas and arguments in the clearest way possible and attempting to enhance the reader’s knowledge, rather than their imagination. But while the literary devices and colourful tales we associate with creative writing are indeed out of place in an essay, these two very different kinds of writing actually have a few similarities. Above all, they’re both meant to be read by other people, and that means that they need to sustain the reader’s interest. So, are there any writing techniques you can borrow from creative writing to help make your essays more interesting and original? Yes there are, and in this article, we’re going to show you how. Before we start, if you’re interested in attending a summer school to help develop these skills, click the link.

1. Think about your reader

With creative writing, as with any kind of writing, your reader is your most important consideration. You need to know and understand whom you’re writing for if you’re to do a good job of keeping them interested. Let’s think for a moment about the kind of person you’re writing for when you’re writing an essay and what you need to do to write specifically for them:

• Teachers or university lecturers – they’re going to be marking your essay, so it needs to answer the question effectively.
• They’ve set the question and they probably have a pretty good idea of how you’re going to answer it – so be original and unpredictable; catch them by surprise with an unusual approach or structure.
• They’re going to be reading many other responses to the same question – so they may well be bored by the time they get to yours. Keep them interested!
• They’re probably going to be pressed for time – so they won’t have time to reread badly written passages to try to understand what you’re getting at. Keep your writing easy to read, succinct and to the point.

What all these points boil down to is the importance of keeping your reader interested in what you have to say. Since creative writing is all about holding the reader’s interest, there must be some lessons to be learned from it and techniques that can be applied within the more limited style constraints of the academic essay. We’ll now turn to what these are.

2. Three-act structure

The three-act structure is a writing device used extensively in modern writing, including for film and television dramas. These ‘acts’ aren’t as distinct as acts in a play, as one follows seamlessly on from another and the audience wouldn’t consciously realise that one act had ended and another began. The structure refers to a plotline that looks something like this:

• Set-up – establishes the characters, how they relate to each other, and the world they inhabit. Within this first ‘act’, a dramatic occurrence called an ‘inciting incident’ takes place (typically around 19 minutes into a film) involving the principal character. They try to deal with it, but this results in another dramatic occurrence called a ‘turning point’. This sets the scene for the rest of the story.
• Confrontation – the turning point in the previous ‘act’ becomes the central problem, which the main character attempts to resolve – usually with plenty of adversity thrown their way that hampers their efforts. In a murder mystery, for example, this act would involve the detective trying to solve the murder. The central character – with the help of supporting characters – undergoes a journey and develops their knowledge, skills or character to a sufficient degree to be able to overcome the problem.
• Resolution – the climax of the story, in which the drama reaches a peak, the problem is overcome, and loose ends are tied up.

This structure sounds all very well for made-up stories, but what has it got to do with essay-writing? The key similarities here are:

• The central argument of your essay is the equivalent of the main character.
• The essay equivalent of the set-up and resolution are the introduction and conclusion.
• The inciting incident in an essay encourages you to get to the point early on in the essay.
• The equivalent of character development in the second act is developing your argument.
• The equivalent of the supporting characters is the evidence you refer to in your essay.

So, applying the three-act structure to an essay gives you something like this:

• Set-up – the introduction. This establishes what you’re talking about, setting the scene. The ‘inciting incident’ could be the introduction of evidence that contradicts a common theory, or the highlighting of a central disagreement in how something is interpreted.
• Confrontation – you discuss the different problems surrounding the topic you’re writing about. You develop the argument using various bits of evidence, moving towards an overall conclusion.
• Resolution – the conclusion. You summarise and resolve the argument with your own opinion, by coming down on one side or the other, having weighed up the evidence you’ve discussed. You could perhaps tie up loose ends by offering an alternative explanation for evidence that doesn’t sit with your conclusion.

Using this structure keeps you focused on the central point, and stops you from waffling, because everything you write is working towards resolving your argument. The use of the inciting incident in the first ‘act’ encourages you to get to the point early on in your essay, thereby keeping the reader interested. The principles of good plot-writing are centred around the connection between different events that show cause and effect, and this central tenet of the three-act structure has obvious parallels with the way in which essays work through presenting evidence in support of arguments.

3. An attention-grabbing opening

An oft-spouted piece of advice in creative writing is to use an attention-grabbing opening. One way of doing this is to start with a ‘flashback’, which could disrupt the chronology of events by transporting the reader directly back to the midst of the action, so that the story begins with maximum excitement. In a murder mystery, for instance, the writer might skip a slow build-up and instead use the murder itself to form the opening of the novel, with the rest of the story charting the efforts of the detective to uncover the perpetrator and perhaps telling the events prior to the murder in a series of flashbacks. The same principle can be applied to essays, though it’s easier to use in some subjects than others. To take an example, let’s say you were writing about how the First World War started. Rather than building up slowly with the various factors, an attention-grabbing opening could (briefly) describe the drama of the Battle of the Somme, perhaps citing some statistics about the number of men involved and killed, and quoting some war poetry about the horrors faced by the soldiers on the Front Line. Then, to introduce the purpose of the essay and launch into your argument about what started the war, a phrase such as, “It seems hard to imagine that all this began with…”. Alternatively, a rhetorical question: “But how did these tens of thousands of soldiers end up in the mud and horror of trench warfare? The story begins several years earlier, with…” It may not be the standard way of writing an essay, but you’ll certainly score points for originality and perhaps ruffle a few feathers.

4. Extended metaphors

Creative writing often makes use of extended metaphors. For example, when Shakespeare wrote the passage in Romeo and Juliet referring to “It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!” he was using an extended metaphor. With this in mind, it’s time to revisit a point we made in a previous article about writing more original essays , in which we argued that, rather than battling on with trying to explain a complex concept in a straightforward way, it might be easier to use an analogy to convey the meaning by drawing comparisons, which people find easier to understand. A metaphor is a kind of analogy, so the similarities with creative writing are strong here. In our previous article we used the example of radioactive decay. An analogy for this is the pressure with which water escapes from a hole in a bucket. It does so exponentially, just as radioactive substances decay exponentially. In both instances, the rate of a consumptive process depends on how much there is left of whatever is being depleted, which results in an exponential rate of decay. This concept is so much easier to explain using the analogy of water flowing from a hole in a bucket, as you give your reader something familiar to visualise in order to explain a concept with which they are unfamiliar.

5. Interesting details about setting and location

Another way of keeping your reader interested is to bring your essay to life with details about setting and location, just as creative writers do. Essays can become quite dry if you focus solely on the academic problems, but you can make them more interesting by peppering them with details. This may not work quite so well for a scientific essay, but it’s certainly relevant for some humanities subjects, in particular English literature, history and archaeology. For example, an essay about the Roman emperor Augustus could mention that he lived a famously modest lifestyle, quoting details from Roman writers and archaeological evidence that support this: Suetonius mentions his “low bed” (interesting because of what it says about accepted standards of Roman beds!) and coarse bread and cheese diet, and the relatively small and non-lavish remains of his house on the Palatine Hill in Rome back up the idea of his having lived a modest life. Incidental details like these can actually prove to be more significant than you initially realise, and you can use them to build your argument; in the case of Augustus, for example, his modest lifestyle is particularly important when seen in the context of Rome’s troubled history with kings. As he gradually acquired more power and became Rome’s first emperor, he had to avoid coming across as being too ‘regal’, and the little details we know about his way of life are significant in light of this. So, not only have you brought your essay to life, but you’ve raised an interesting point, too.

Few writers get it right first time. Once you’ve written a first draft, read through it and think about whether the order of your points is optimal and whether what you’ve written actually makes sense. It’s easy in the age of computers to chop and change – you can simply copy and paste part of your essay into another part where it might fit better, and then make minor changes to your wording so that it flows. After you’ve finished editing, have a final read through and check that you’re happy with the wording. Don’t forget to proofread to ensure that your spelling and grammar is impeccable!

7. And finally… record your ideas

Creative writers swear by having a notebook with them at all times, ready to jot down any ideas that suddenly spring to mind. You can adopt the same principle for your essay-writing, because you never know when the inspiration might strike. Have a think about your essay topic when you’re out and about; you’d be surprised what occurs to you when you’re away from your normal place of study. As you can see, there are more similarities between two apparently unrelated kinds of writing than you might have realised. It is, of course, possible to go too far with the creative writing idea when you’re essay-writing: literary devices aren’t always appropriate, and your essay still needs to retain objectivity and conform to the more formal conventions of academic writing. But there are certainly techniques to be borrowed from creative writing that will help your essays stand out from the crowd and give your teacher or lecturer a welcome break from the monotony of essay-marking.

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How to Write a Creative Essay: Useful Tips and Examples

Samuel Gorbold

Essay creative writing is not always seen as fun by most students, but the realm of creative essays can offer an enjoyable twist. The inherent freedom in choosing a topic and expressing your thoughts makes this type of paper a creative playground. Engaging in composing a creative essay provides an opportunity to flex your creative muscles. Yet, if you're new to crafting compositions, it can pose a challenge. This article guides you through the steps to write an impressive creative essay, helping you navigate the process seamlessly. In a hurry? Our writing service is there for you 24/7, with guidance and practical help.

What Is a Creative Essay

A creative essay is a form of writing that goes beyond traditional academic structures, allowing the author to express themselves more imaginatively and artistically. Unlike formal essays, creative ones emphasize storytelling, personal reflection, and the exploration of emotions. They often incorporate literary elements such as vivid descriptions, dialogue, and poetic language to engage readers on a more emotional and sensory level. Follow our creative essay tips to experiment with style and structure, offering a unique platform to convey ideas, experiences, or perspectives in a captivating and inventive way.

To answer the question what does creative writing mean, it’s necessary to point out that it departs from traditional academic writing, offering a canvas for artistic expression and storytelling. It diverges from the rigid structure of formal writings, providing a platform for writers to infuse their work with imagination and emotion. In this genre, literary elements such as vivid descriptions and poetic language take center stage, fostering a more engaging and personal connection with the reader.

Unlike a poem analysis essay , this form of writing prioritizes narrative and self-expression, allowing authors to delve into their experiences and perspectives uniquely. It's a departure from the conventional rules, encouraging experimentation with style and structure. Creative essays offer a distinct avenue for individuals to convey ideas and emotions, weaving a tapestry that captivates and resonates with readers on a deeper, more sensory level.

Creative Writing Essay Outline Explained From A to Z

Moving on, let's delve into how to write a creative writing essay from s structural perspective. Despite the focus on creativity and imagination, a robust structure remains essential. Consider your favorite novel – does it not follow a well-defined beginning, middle, and end? So does your article. Before diving in, invest some time crafting a solid plan for your creative writing essay.

Creative Essay Introduction

In creative essay writing, the introduction demands setting the scene effectively. Begin with a concise portrayal of the surroundings, the time of day, and the historical context of the present scenario. This initial backdrop holds significant weight, shaping the atmosphere and trajectory of the entire storyline. Ensure a vivid depiction, employing explicit descriptions, poetic devices, analogies, and symbols to alter the text's tone promptly.

Creative Essay Body

The body sections serve as the engine to propel the storyline and convey the intended message. Yet, they can also be leveraged to introduce shifts in motion and emotion. For example, as creative writers, injecting conflict right away can be a powerful move if the plot unfolds slowly. This unexpected twist startles the reader, fundamentally altering the narrative's tone and pace. Additionally, orchestrating a fabricated conflict can keep the audience on edge, adding an extra layer of intrigue.

Creative Essay Conclusion

Typically, creative writers conclude the narrative towards the end. Introduce a conflict and then provide its resolution to tie up the discourse neatly. While the conclusion often doesn't lead to the story's climax, skilled writers frequently deploy cliffhangers. By employing these writing techniques suggested by our write my college essay experts, the reader is left in suspense, eagerly anticipating the fate of the characters without a premature revelation.

Creative Writing Tips

Every student possesses a distinct mindset, individual way of thinking, and unique ideas. However, considering the academic nature of creative writing essays, it is essential to incorporate characteristics commonly expected in such works, such as:

• Select a topic that sparks your interest or explores unique perspectives. A captivating subject sets the stage for an engaging paper.
• Begin with a vivid and attention-grabbing introduction. Use descriptive language, anecdotes, or thought-provoking questions to draw in your readers from the start.
• Clearly articulate the main idea or theme of your essay in a concise thesis statement. This provides a roadmap for your readers and keeps your writing focused.
• Use descriptive language to create a sensory experience for your readers. Appeal to sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to enhance the imagery.
• Play with the structure of your content. Consider nonlinear narratives, flashbacks, or unconventional timelines to add an element of surprise and creativity.
• If applicable, develop well-rounded and relatable characters. Provide details that breathe life into your characters and make them memorable to the reader.
• Establish a vivid and immersive setting for your narrative. The environment should contribute to the overall mood and tone.
• Blend dialogue and narration effectively. Dialogue adds authenticity and allows characters to express themselves, while narration provides context and insight.
• Revisit your essay for revisions. Pay attention to the flow, coherence, and pacing. Edit for clarity and refine your language to ensure every word serves a purpose.
• Share your creative writing article with others and welcome constructive feedback. Fresh perspectives can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your storytelling.
• Maintain an authentic voice throughout your essay. Let your unique style and perspective shine through, creating a genuine connection with your audience.
• Craft a memorable conclusion that leaves a lasting impression. Summarize key points, evoke emotions, or pose thought-provoking questions to resonate with your readers.

Types of Creative Writing Essays

A creative writing essay may come in various forms, each offering a unique approach to storytelling and self-expression. Some common types include:

• Reflects the author's personal experiences, emotions, and insights, often weaving in anecdotes and reflections.

Descriptive 

• Focuses on creating a vivid and sensory-rich portrayal of a scene, person, or event through detailed descriptions.
• Tells a compelling story with a clear plot, characters, and often a central theme or message.

Reflective 

• Encourages introspection and thoughtful examination of personal experiences, revealing personal growth and lessons learned.

Expository 

• Explores and explains a particular topic, idea, or concept creatively and engagingly.

Persuasive 

• Utilizes creative elements to persuade the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action.

Imaginative 

• These creative writing papers allow for the free expression of imagination, often incorporating elements of fantasy, surrealism, or speculative fiction.

Literary Analysis

• Learning how to write a creative writing essay, analyze and interpret a piece of literature, and incorporate creativity to explore deeper meanings and connections.
• Blends personal experiences with travel narratives, offering insights into different cultures, places, and adventures.
• Focuses on creating a detailed and engaging portrait of a person, exploring their character, experiences, and impact on others.

Experimental 

• Pushes the boundaries of traditional essay structures, experimenting with form, style, and narrative techniques.
• Combines elements from different essay types, allowing for a flexible and creative approach to storytelling.

As you can see, there are many types of creative compositions, so we recommend that you study how to write an academic essay with the help of our extensive guide.

How to Start a Creative Writing Essay

Starting a creative writing essay involves capturing the reader's attention and setting the tone for the narrative. Here are some effective ways to begin:

• Pose a thought-provoking question that intrigues the reader and encourages them to contemplate the topic.
• Begin with a short anecdote or a brief storytelling snippet that introduces the central theme or idea of your essay.
• Paint a vivid picture of the setting using descriptive language, setting the stage for the events or emotions to unfold.
• Open with a compelling dialogue that sparks interest or introduces key characters, immediately engaging the reader in the conversation.
• Incorporate a relevant quotation or epigraph that sets the mood or provides insight into the essay's theme.
• Begin with a bold or intriguing statement that captivates the reader's attention, encouraging them to delve further into your essay.
• Present a contradiction or unexpected scenario that creates a sense of curiosity and compels the reader to explore the resolution.
• Employ a striking metaphor or simile that immediately draws connections and conveys the essence of your creative essay.
• Start by directly addressing the reader, creating a sense of intimacy and involvement right from the beginning.
• Establish the mood or atmosphere of your essay by describing the emotions, sounds, or surroundings relevant to the narrative.
• Present a dilemma or conflict that hints at the central tension of your essay, enticing the reader to discover the resolution.
• Start in the middle of the action, dropping the reader into a pivotal moment that sparks curiosity about what happened before and what will unfold.

Choose an approach to how to write a creative essay that aligns with your tone and theme, ensuring a captivating and memorable introduction.

Creative Essay Formats

Working on a creative writing essay offers a canvas for writers to express themselves in various formats, each contributing a unique flavor to the storytelling. One prevalent format is personal writing, where writers delve into their own experiences, emotions, and reflections, creating a deeply personal narrative that resonates with readers. Through anecdotes, insights, and introspection, personal essays provide a window into the author's inner world, fostering a connection through shared vulnerabilities and authentic storytelling.

Another captivating format is the narrative, which unfolds like a traditional story with characters, a plot, and a clear arc. Writers craft a compelling narrative, often with a central theme or message, engaging readers in a journey of discovery. Through vivid descriptions and well-developed characters, narrative articles allow for the exploration of universal truths within the context of a captivating storyline, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

For those who seek to blend fact and fiction, the imaginative format opens the door to vivid exploration. This format allows writers to unleash their imagination, incorporating elements of fantasy, surrealism, or speculative fiction. By bending reality and weaving imaginative threads into the narrative, writers can transport readers to otherworldly realms or offer fresh perspectives on familiar themes. The imaginative essay format invites readers to embrace the unexpected, challenging conventional boundaries and stimulating creativity in both the writer and the audience. Check out our poetry analysis essay guide to learn more about the freedom of creativity learners can adopt while working on assignments. 

Creative Essay Topics and Ideas

As you become familiar with creative writing tips, we’d like to share several amazing topic examples that might help you get out of writer’s block:

• The enchanted garden tells a tale of blooms and whispers.
• Lost in time, a journey through historical echoes unfolds.
• Whispering winds unravel the secrets of nature.
• The silent symphony explores the soul of music.
• Portraits of the invisible capture the essence of emotions.
• Beyond the horizon is a cosmic adventure in stardust.
• Can dreams shape reality? An exploration of the power of imagination.
• The forgotten key unlocks doors to the past.
• Ripples in the void, an exploration of cosmic mysteries.
• Echoes of eternity are stories written in the stars.
• In the shadow of giants, unveils the unsung heroes.
• Can words paint pictures? An exploration of the artistry of literary expression.
• Whispers of the deep explore the ocean's hidden stories.
• Threads of time weave lives through generations.
• Do colors hold emotions? A journey of painting the canvas of feelings.
• The quantum quandary navigates the world of subatomic particles.
• Reflections in a mirror unmask the layers of identity.
• The art of silence crafts narratives without words.
• The ethereal dance explores movement beyond the visible.
• Can shadows speak? Unveiling stories cast in darkness.

Examples of Creative Writing Essays

We've added a couple of brief creative writing essays examples for your reference and inspiration.

Creative Writing Example 1: Admission Essay

Creative writing example 2: narrative essay.

What Are the Types of Creative Writing Essays?

What is a creative writing essay, how to start a creative writing essay, what are some creative writing tips.

Samuel Gorbold , a seasoned professor with over 30 years of experience, guides students across disciplines such as English, psychology, political science, and many more. Together with EssayHub, he is dedicated to enhancing student understanding and success through comprehensive academic support.

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How Can You Write a Creative Essay Like a Pro

Updated 08 Jul 2024

Writing a decent creative essay requires a lot of skill, talent, and diligence. It is a time-consuming job, but it becomes easy if you know how to do it right. If you really want to compose an excellent creative essay that is going to impress others, then you need to make sure that you are following the right steps. This kind of writing is a chance to speak your mind and tell people how you feel about a particular topic. So you have to know that you are using the right words to deliver the message. 

What Is a Creative Essay?

One of the first lessons that every student has learned is how to write a creative essay. It focuses on expressing the point of view of the author. It is the author’s chance to show their good command of the English language, their ability to express their opinion and to transform their feelings to facts. We decided to provide you with this article to help you do your creative essay in the best quality.

Understanding how to compose this type of essay is going to help you complete your assignment on time. It is different from other academic papers because you actually have more freedom to say what you think, so often this type of essay must have a lot of words, and you need to think up  how to add length to a paper . You will be ready to make people understand what you feel and how it links to other subjects, topics, and ideas. Good creative essays give students a chance to express their opinion in a safe environment. It is a good chance to develop their critical analysis skills and power of expression. This is why it is extremely important to be sure that you are doing well to finish your task, so it is of high quality. Also, your previous experience in writing process essays will be useful, because creative essays are filled with descriptions of different situations, facts, cases etc.

School, college, and university students are usually asked to submit this type of work. The complexity and length of this assignment will depend on the academic level and the nature of the topic. When students are asked to finish creative papers, they are given a chance to break free from the set structure and rigid frameworks. The student will usually have the freedom to compile a creative essay about any topic, create a plot, and characters in order to express their feelings and ideas. But that is not easy, and a lot of students might struggle with submitting an excellent piece of writing on time. 

How to Improve your Creativity? How to Write a Creative Essay Properly? Read now in our article!

Creative Essay Topics

Before you start working on the contents of your assignment, you need to choose the right topic. There are a lot of good creative essay topics that can serve as writing prompts for your upcoming assignment:

• Compose a creative essay about a past event in your life and how you can reflect on it at present.
• Creating a story about someone who woke up to find themselves able to rule the world and how their morals and ideas changed.
• Describing a person who has had a significant influence on your life. You can choose a public figure or someone you’ve known on a personal level.
• Talking about something that you can’t live without. It can be your favorite hobby or a device that you use daily.
• Imagine that you had the chance to choose a superpower. What would it be and would you do?
• What if you were chosen to go on an expedition that aims to start life on another planet? What would you pack from Planet Earth? What would you leave behind and why?
• You are a detective who is trying to solve a crime and find out that a loved one committed it. What would you do?
• Describe your earliest memory of learning about faith or justice. How did your beliefs change over the years?
• You woke up to find yourself in a parallel world where there are no boundaries between countries. Where are you going to go and why?
• Write a creative essay about the happiest or saddest day of your life.  

The list can go on forever. The professor usually asks you to link your essay to a subject course or topic that you are currently studying so that the whole thing makes sense. Doing the needed research will actually give your writing structure and help keep it relevant. Nevertheless, you are allowed to break free and talk about what you feel which is a great chance for people to understand who you really are. 

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Advice Before Writing Creative Essay

Writing an impressive creative essay is all about proper planning. As a matter of fact, the process starts long before you hold your pencil or sit down to your laptop. It is all about letting your imagination go wild and free, but you still need to follow some guidelines which show that you are on the right track. Browsing through various creative essays examples can provide you with a wealth of inspiration and different stylistic approaches. Here are a few things that you can do before you actually start writing:

• Feel confident that you’ve picked a relevant topic that you enjoy writing about. Creative essays let you a lot of freedom, but this can be a little bit confusing. You need to think about the topic that you’ve chosen to know that you have something to say about it.
• Think about your audience. Who are they? How can you keep them interested? This will help you choose the appropriate language to deliver the message. 
• Draw an outline for your creative essay. Having a plan or outline is useful because it can help you stay on track and minimize confusion. You should start by writing down notes that highlight the main idea, the protagonist, main characters, and the moral of the story. As you go on with your creative essay, you can check your plan to check that you haven’t deviated from the main idea.
• Take notes and write down your ideas. You should mention all good ideas even if they don’t make much sense at the time. We can advise practicing in classification essays, in which you can compare different topics and choose the best one. Once you start writing, you can combine more than one attractive idea.

Creative Ways to Write an Essay

Now that you know what a creative essay is, it is time to start working. Writing takes time and practice, so the more you practice, the better you will become. Here are some useful and effective tips that can help you get a good grade on an interesting creative essay:

• To make no doubt that your writing is successful, you need to start it off right . You have to grab the attention of readers from the minute they start reading. Your audience should be willing to know what will happen next and how things can turn out to be.
• Combine your creative essay ideas in a rough draft. Write your ideas down and don’t worry if they don’t make sense. You can exclude and refine them later on in the editing phase. 
• Read your draft and check that your ideas are stated in a chronological order that makes sense . Focus on the smooth transition that keeps your ideas clear, and your readers focused. 
• Explain who the protagonist is and what does he or she wants. Your audience will be interested in understanding who your characters are and what struggles they are going through.
• Describe the setting properly. Your audience will be more able to connect with the story if they can imagine a setting where the story takes place. Try to mention details that help the reader feel that they can see the scene you are trying to describe. 
• Using a metaphor or analogy is an excellent way to express your feelings and help the audience connect with words you are writing. 
• Don’t be scared to speak your mind. You can show the world who you are and tell your audience where you are coming from. Try to explore the topic from an unusual angle that your readers will find intriguing. 

Creative Essay Structure

Following the correct structure to build your essay is going to keep your writing coherent and exciting. The perfect creative essay is divided into three acts: the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution. 

The Setup or the Introduction

Involves introducing the main players and the situation that leads to main events in your creative essay. It could be the introduction of the central theme that you are talking about or mentioning the situation that you want your readers to get acquainted with. 

The Confrontation or the Body Paragraph

The main issue or struggles that the character goes through. It is a key problem or event in your writing, and it represents the real body of your creative essay. The resolution is the climax where the main problem is resolved. It is the conclusion where you can mention your opinion and what you think about the main struggle or issue. 

The Resolution or the Conclusion

The right way to finish your paper. You need to answer these central questions: who, where, when, what, and how. You should try to provide answers to all these questions throughout the essay so that your readers stay interested until the end. 

Most people think about writing the title of their essay after they are done. This is usually a good idea because by then, you would have a clear idea of what your writing is really about. Your title should be catchy but still intriguing as it shouldn’t reveal everything you want to say. It should keep your readers interested to read the rest of your essay. The other part that you should carefully work on is the conclusion. It sums up everything you’ve written so far and given you a final chance to express how you feel, share lessons you’ve learned or a message you want to send. It should be short and to the point. 

Advice after Writing Creative Essay

Writing creative essays is not that easy, but practice makes perfect. There are a few tips that can guide you to improve the quality of your writing. One of them is to keep on writing. The more you write, the better you will become. You will be able to develop your own style as an author and can experiment with new ideas that you want to share with readers. 

You should also read your essay after you are done. This allows you to edit, remove and rewrite while focusing on the main picture. Don’t get overwhelmed while writing or try to revise your work when it is not finished yet. Rereading your creative writing paper gives you a chance to check the tempo and pace of your paper to be confident that it is flowing smoothly. This is one way to ensure that your audience will not get bored while reading. 

You need to focus on using new words while describing details. Using a thesaurus to use unique words is a good idea to make the quality of your writing better. You should revise your work that it is free of grammar and spelling mistakes. Errors and mistakes can change the meaning of your sentences and will automatically lower the quality of your writing. You can also ask a friend or a family member to read it before submitting it. This will give you an insight into what people who understand you will think and feel after reading what you’ve written. 

What Can We Recommend?

Writing a high-quality creative essay is not everybody’s cup of tea. Nevertheless, you can get professional help online that impresses your audience. Today, you can ask for professional assistance and hire essay writers who is ready to improve your draft, provide you with high quality essay editing service, or even finish your creative essay on your behalf. 

Our creative writing services , EduBirdie, helps you submit excellent, creative, and original writing pieces regardless of the topic. If you lack the time or skills to finish your assignment the way you want, you need to contact us and pay to write an essay . We’ve got your back, and we will provide you with a creative essay that will turn heads. 

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Written by Paul Calderon

As a trained writer and an expert in book publishing and finalization, Paul knows how to engage readers in his text. As an author himself, Paul never misses a chance to write. Writing is his true passion as he explores technology, education, and entertainment among many popular subjects these days. His mentoring experience and skills of creative guidance make his writing accessible, clear, and fun to follow.

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How to Write a Creative Essay: Your Fresh Guide

What Is a Creative Essay

Creative essay is a form of writing that combines elements of fiction, personal experience, and imagination.

Do you ever want to let your imagination loose in your school essays? Creative writing lets you do just that. It allows you to invent characters, places, and stories that might not exist in real life. This type of writing encourages you to play with words, structure, and style to stir emotions, provoke thoughts, or simply entertain your readers.

Unlike more formal writing like journalism or academic essays, creative writing is all about expressing yourself artistically. It gives you the freedom to showcase your personality through characters, stories, and plots that you create.

In this guide, our college essay writer will walk you through everything you need to know, from picking a great topic to putting your ideas down on paper. You'll find examples of creative essays, a template to help you organize your thoughts, and tips on how to make your writing more vivid and impactful.

How to Write a Creative Essay in 6 Steps

Let's go through the key steps for writing a creative essay. By breaking down the process into manageable parts, you'll find it more straightforward to develop engaging ideas and structure your essay effectively.

Meanwhile, check out our special article on how to write in cursive .

Write Freely

When you start writing, whether it's for essays or stories, it's best to sit down and jot down your first thoughts. Freewriting is a common technique among writers. It helps you start thinking and brainstorming ideas.

Freewriting does two main things:

• It keeps your ideas flowing so you don't forget any good ones.
• It improves your ability to write continuously for longer periods.

For essays, you can begin by writing the topic in the center of a page and then creating a mind map with any relevant ideas that come to mind. This can include different aspects of the topic you want to cover and examples or quotes you've come across.

Remember, this brainstorming session shouldn't take too long. Set a timer for about ten minutes, play your favorite music, and let your ideas flow naturally. This initial step is all about getting your thoughts out there without overthinking it.

Tell the Story in Three Parts

In storytelling, we often use a three-part structure: Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. This approach is widely used in writing, movies, and TV shows. Unlike the acts in a play, these parts flow into each other seamlessly.

• Setup - Introduces the characters, their relationships, and the world they live in. Early on, there's usually an event called an 'inciting incident' (often around 19 minutes into a film) that sets the story in motion. The main character faces challenges and makes decisions that shape the rest of the narrative.
• Confrontation - The central problem emerges from the inciting incident, and the main character strives to resolve it. They encounter obstacles that test their abilities and resolve. For instance, in a detective story, this phase involves the detective uncovering clues and facing setbacks before reaching a breakthrough.
• Resolution - The story reaches its peak as the main conflict is confronted and resolved. Loose ends are tied up, and the characters' journeys conclude, leaving a sense of closure.

This structure helps writers build engaging narratives that keep audiences invested in the characters' journeys from start to finish.

Start with a Hook

In creative writing, it's often recommended to start with an exciting beginning. One good way is to begin with a 'conversation,' jumping straight into a lively talk to grab the reader's interest right away. For example, in a spy thriller, instead of easing into the story, the writer might open with agents arguing about a secret mission, setting the stage for suspense and excitement. The story could then unfold with more dialogue revealing the characters' motives and actions.

This method also works in essays, especially for certain topics. For instance, if you were writing about the ethical issues of cloning, rather than starting with a slow introduction to different viewpoints, you could begin with a conversation between scientists debating the consequences of cloning animals. Showing different opinions and ethical dilemmas through dialogue could engage readers and lead them into the broader discussion of bioethics and scientific advancements. This approach may not follow the usual essay structure, but it can make your writing more engaging and thought-provoking.

Add Rich Details

To keep your reader engaged, add vivid details about settings and locations, much like creative writers do. Essays can become dull if they only focus on academic concepts, but you can make them more captivating by including descriptive details.

While it can be challenging in essays with strict word limits or those focused on scientific topics, you can certainly incorporate relevant details in subjects like humanities, literature, theater, or history. For example, when analyzing a novel by Jane Austen, you might explore how societal expectations of the time shaped her portrayal of female characters.

By including these extra details and snippets of information, you not only maintain reader interest but also demonstrate your depth of understanding and independent study. This approach can impress your reader and potentially enhance your academic performance.

End Clearly

In creative writing, ambiguity can spark debate, but in essays, clarity is key. Unlike creative writing, in which open endings can be intriguing, essays require a clear conclusion.

Always ensure your essay concludes definitively. This shows your examiner what you've learned and your final answer to the essay question. Unlike creative writing, your goal is to demonstrate understanding and reach a clear conclusion to earn marks.

Make sure your conclusion is straightforward and easy to locate. With many essays to assess, clarity helps your teacher quickly identify your final thoughts. Avoid ambiguity or vague language, which can frustrate readers, including your examiner.

Revise and Improve

Most writers don't nail it on the first try. Editing is crucial, especially when trimming down your word count. It can be tough to cut out sections you've crafted carefully.

After completing your first draft, read through it critically. Consider the order of your points and ensure everything makes sense. With modern technology, editing is easier—you can rearrange sections by copying and pasting and refining your wording for smooth transitions. Once you've made these edits, give your essay a final read-through to polish the wording. Don't overlook proofreading to catch any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Outline for Creative Writing Essay

Here is an outline that will help you structure your creative writing essay, whether it's a poem, a personal essay, a short story, or a speech.

Types of Creative Essays 

Creative writing comes in many forms, each a great way to tell stories and express yourself. Here are 5 main types:

• Poetry uses short, powerful words to describe feelings, thoughts, and experiences. It can rhyme and have a beat or be more free-flowing. Poets play with language to create strong emotions and ideas, capturing moments in special ways.
• Personal essays mix memories, reflections, and stories to explore a person's experiences and what they learned. Unlike school essays, they focus on the writer's unique voice, using stories and thoughts to tell a narrative. They can be about almost anything, giving readers a glimpse into the writer's mind and feelings with the goal of connecting through shared experiences.
• Short stories can be very short or complete stories, but they have a word limit. This challenges writers to create interesting characters, plots, and settings using concise storytelling. Short stories come in all sorts of genres, like realistic fiction or fantasy, and aim to build suspense and give a satisfying ending in a short space.
• Novels are longer fictional works with complex characters, plots, and settings. They can be literary fiction, science fiction, romance, mysteries, or anything else, offering in-depth stories that unfold over many chapters. Writing novels requires planning and a strong understanding of storytelling to keep readers engaged with vivid worlds and compelling narratives.
• Speeches are written to be spoken aloud, with the goal of informing, inspiring, persuading, or entertaining listeners. They can be formal addresses or informal talks and use special writing techniques along with storytelling elements. Speechwriting is about crafting messages that resonate with listeners' emotions and minds, using stories and anecdotes to capture their attention and hold their interest.

20 Creative Essay Topics 

Before putting yourself into creative essay writing, you should pick among the creative writing essay topics that you will be talking about. Here, our paper writer prepared some fresh ideas to make your choice easier:

• Write about a time you overcame a challenge. What did you learn from the experience?
• Imagine you can talk to animals. What would you ask your pet?
• Describe a place that brings back special memories. What makes it so special?
• Create a story about a forgotten object. Where did it come from? Who used it?
• Write a letter to your future self. What are your hopes and dreams?
• If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
• Imagine a world without technology. How would your life be different?
• What is the most important lesson you've learned in life so far?
• Describe a dream you'll never forget. What do you think it means?
• Write a story about a character who is very different from you.
• What historical figure do you find most interesting? Why?
• Create a dialogue between two unlikely characters.
• Imagine you could travel anywhere in the universe. Where would you go? Why?
• Write a story about a robot who wants to be human.
• What does friendship mean to you?
• Describe a work of art that you find moving. Why does it affect you?
• What is your favorite thing about nature? Why?
• Imagine you are invisible for a day. What would you do?
• Write a story about a creature from myth or legend.
• What do you think the future holds for humanity?

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Example of a Creative Essay

If you liked these samples, you can buy essays online from us. Our authors will write them flawlessly and deliver them within the specified timeframe. Additionally, you can find helpful information on a book review format in our dedicated article.

Wrapping Up

We hope you now understand what a creative essay is and how to write one. Some people find writing creative essays easier than others. By applying the tips mentioned above, you should be well-equipped to create work that you're proud of.

If you need extra guidance, consider working with our expert coursework writers . They have developed numerous academic essays with professionalism. Place an order today and experience our dedication firsthand!

Are You Short on Creative Writing Topics?

Whether you need a compelling personal statement, a thought-provoking argumentative essay, or a captivating narrative, we've got you covered.

If you feel like some questions were left unanswered, don't you feel disappointed just yet! Our dissertation writers for hire compiled the most frequently asked question on creative essay writing, so take a look for additional information:

What Are the 7 Types of Creative Writing?

What are the 5 c's of creative writing, is creative writing a skill.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Added new examples, topics and FAQs
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• 7 Techniques from Creative Writing You Can Use to Improve Your Essays. (2014, June 21). Oxford Royale Academy. https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/techniques-creative-writing-improve-essays/  
• (2023). Oxfordsummercourses.com. https://oxfordsummercourses.com/articles/creative-writing-techniques-to-improve-your-essays/  

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How to Write a Creative Essay: Step by Step Guide

By: Tasha Kolesnikova

Most students don’t typically associate essay writing with fun — but creative essays can often prove quite enjoyable. The nature of this type of paper means that you’re usually given a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing a topic and writing on it. These kinds of essays give you a chance to exercise your creative muscle. However, if you're not used to writing creative essays, it can be challenging.

What Is a Creative Essay?

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This article will explain how to write a creative writing essay that’s bound to impress your readers, walking you through every step in the process.

A creative essay is a style of writing in which the writer utilizes their creativity to develop and present a written work. This type of essay is not bound by rigid structure, format, or style.

You usually will have a considerable degree of freedom when it comes to choosing the subject for your creative essay. Your professor may give you a theme or category to focus on, but you have free reign when choosing your topic , so long as it falls within the set category.

While it’s nice to have the freedom to write about whatever you like that prospect can also be fairly daunting. Read on to find out about the various types of creative essays and some essential creative essay writing tips.

Creative Essays Structure

The next point to consider is the structure of a creative essay. While the emphasis of the assignment is on creativity and imagination, this doesn’t mean you can completely forego a solid structure.

Think about your favorite novel by your favorite author. Does it have a well-defined structure? A clear beginning, middle, and end? In all likelihood, it does, and so should your essay. So, take the time to compose a creative writing essay plan before getting started.

An introduction for a creative essay should accomplish several things. It should:

• ⚠️ Grab the reader’s attention.
• 🎯 Introduce your subject matter.
• 💡 Explain the significance of the topic at hand.

As you can see for yourself, the introduction of a creative essay isn’t altogether dissimilar from that of a discursive or analytical text, though you will use different techniques in either to achieve the desired results.

The introduction should provide your reader with all the context necessary for them to follow the rest of the text. You should also introduce any relevant figures who appear in your story and explain your relation to them.

The main body of the essay should form the bulk of your piece. In this section, you should develop the content of your introduction . This part of the essay is also known as the confrontation because it’s where you will usually have to discuss the problems you faced or obstacles you overcame.

For example, in an admission essay for a high-pressure job, you might talk about a time when you were put under extreme pressure but coped well with the situation. This will make up the main body of your essay.

Next is the third and final part of your creative essay: the conclusion. Whereas in an academic piece of writing you might indicate it’s the final paragraphs with phrases like, “ In conclusion, ” or “ To conclude, ” in creative essay writing you should omit such terms. Instead, you should demonstrate that you’ve reached the end of your text by answering any remaining questions and reflecting on the events recorded in your essay.

Depending on what you set out to accomplish, you might choose to leave your essay open-ended. In most cases, though, a decisive closing statement will ensure that your piece leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

When it comes to creativity, each student has one’s mindset, way of thinking, and ideas. But since it is still an academic assignment, you should use characteristics that are common for such essays, e.g.:

• ☑️ You need to combine fiction and objective facts in a free manner.
• ☑️ You provide any facts; ensure they are relevant and accurate. The creative essay doesn’t exclude profound research or thorough analysis.
• ☑️ You must share a significant experience, describing it creatively.
• ☑️ It is essential to use various methods to grab the audience’s attention from the very first paragraph.

When you’re writing an argumentative essay , your task is to develop powerful arguments. And when it comes to creative assignment, you need to play with the audience, with its imagination. You have a lot of space for experiments, and it makes everything a bit complicated.

Types of Creative Essays

When you have an academic assignment and want to get the best grade, you need to organize the whole process and simplify it for yourself. Each student has one’s talent, and different work approaches. For example, some people prefer to work in absolute silence and vice versa. Some students need a clear structure, and there are ones who feel confident in the chaos. During your studies, you will understand what you prefer and how you can make your writing process more comfortable.

The first thing you should devote to is the type of your essay. You already know that you need to develop a creative text, but it is not enough. There are several types with their characteristics to consider.

This type is much like novel writing, where the author discusses real or imaginary events. The critical point that distinguishes this type from other ones is that you have not to tell only but to show. At the prewriting stage, you need to develop a structure that consists of the plot, characters, central concepts, etc. To share your thoughts, you’ll add descriptive details demonstrating your lexicon.

Narrative essays tell short stories and interact with the audience’s imagination.

The admission essay has academic and practical meaning since you can use it to reach your goal. It goes about enrolling in an educational institution or program. For example, if you want to get a place at the MBA school, you need to write a letter to help you stand out among other candidates.

The purpose of this essay is to tell a story about yourself. About your background and qualities that make you a decent candidate. It is also important to mention the importance of this program. Why exactly have you chosen it? How can you use your knowledge and experience to contribute?

This type of essay has many similarities with the previous one, but there are some differences. When it comes to the admission essay, your target audience is the admission committee that decides your future. You write to them following their requirements. It means you should accentuate your life's particular events and the peculiarities of your personality.

But when it comes to the personal essay , you have more space for creativity. You may have a topic, but it is you who decide the direction of the piece. You can tell a story from your past, describe your perspective, share your ideas on important issues, etc.

The academic descriptive essay is focused on facts. Students conduct thorough research, analyze information, and present it in the required way. But the creative one needs another approach. You should find another way to describe the object.

What you need to do is to think out of the box. Define the object's key characteristics and try to share them with readers in an entertaining manner.

The lyric essay has a lot of similarities with the descriptive one, but with the focus on imagery. If you’re studying English or a foreign language, literature, art, or culture, you’ll deal with lyric assignments.

And to be fair, it can be challenging. You can’t just use tricky epithets since they don’t convey your ideas. It is essential to feel the topic deeply and even create a new imaginary world in your head that you will colorfully share in your text.

How to Start a Creative Writing Essay

Now it’s time to consider the writing process, starting with how to write a creative essay introduction.

When you’re thinking about how to do the introduction to your creative writing essay, there are a few key things to consider:

• Have you included a hook to grab your reader? To do this, make use of vivid descriptions and emotive language.
• Have you introduced the subject matter? That way, your audience knows what to expect going into your work.
• Have you explained why the topic is important and relevant? While you do want to place a focus on why the topic at hand is important to you, you also want to make sure it’s relevant to your reader, as well.

Here are a few short examples of how to start a creative essay.

Growing up near the sea, I always enjoyed going for an early evening walk down by the shore. It was not a beach, nor was it particularly warm, but it was quiet and secluded, with its craggy rocks lending the place a wild sort of air. One evening walk, in particular, has stuck with me through the years: on that night, I was almost trapped by the tide.

My life has not been without hardship. A fractured family life and a school career fraught with stress and anxiety made my early years a struggle, and one that took huge resilience to overcome. For years, I downplayed the impact of my parents’ divorce, on the basis that I had always been much better off than millions of children around the globe. Nevertheless, I've grown to embrace the fact that my life hasn't always been simple and, as a result, value my ability to bounce back from any setback.

Even to those new to mountain climbing, Ben Lomond is not an overly strenuous climb. The path that ambles up its gray, craggy slopes ascends slowly, gradually, steadily rising above rugged hills and the sparkling blue waters of Loch Lomond. On clear days, you can look out over the water, the sound of birdsong ringing in your ears. But even on foggy, rainy days—of which there are many in Scotland—the place holds an otherworldly beauty, with gauzy, pale mist nestled in the hills.

A creative essay format is less rigid than other formats. The style of your creative essay will be largely determined by your topic, rather than following a specific format.

A creative writing essay format is similar to the format of any other assignment you might write for university. You should have clear, distinct paragraphs, each treating a separate point. While you may be employing some poetic techniques or imagery for your assignment, you should still treat it as an essay.

If you include any quotes or facts in your piece, you will still be required to provide sources. Make sure that you know what citation style you’re expected to use so that you aren’t penalized for formatting your references incorrectly.

As mentioned above, you still have to think about structure when writing a creative essay. Therefore, making up a creative writing essay outline before you start writing can be a very useful exercise. It both helps ensure that you are clear on your goals before you start writing, and gives you a framework to reference once you’ve begun the drafting process.

The first step when working on creative writing essays is to decide on a topic. If you’re not sure what to choose, you might benefit from a brainstorming session, writing down all your thoughts and ideas.

Once you’ve decided what topic to write on, think about what events you could discuss that would illustrate your topic best. Consider what points you should include when introducing the topic, what the focus of the story should be, and what finishing points you’ll make in your conclusion.

When working on this sort of project, sometimes looking at creative writing essay examples can be beneficial.

Examples of Creative Essays

We’ve included a couple of short creative essay examples for you to refer to.

Useful Tips and Tricks

The vital thing you should know is that the A-grade is not random. It is a result of thorough and consistent work. You need to polish your skills all the time, even when you’re not writing. Read some tips from our experts that help them to keep their mastership.

If you want to create interesting stories that will own readers' attention, you need to develop "live" characters made from flesh and bones, not plastic. The only way that you can use to create such personages is to mine the traits of real people. You can find inspiration in a best friend, a fellow student, and even in a regular individual from the subway.

Like artists use models to paint pictures, you can use people around you to become a better writer. Watch them in order to create realistic personages and depict character development.

If you read the articles by famous writers, you will mention that they always have a notebook. You also need it to jot down any thoughts that spring to mind. You never know when the idea might strike. It is impossible to plan inspiration.

This notebook can be useful since some ideas can be useful right now, while others will come in handy a bit later. You’ll have many writing assignments during your studies, so try to make them more accessible.

The second important piece of advice is to read a lot. You can find interesting writing prompts anywhere, especially if you’re looking for them. Yes, it is not a mistake. If you want to write, you should read. And read everything: books, articles, short stories and novels, Facebook posts, and even manuals for electronics.

Reading various authors, you will understand how they differ, what their word choice is, and how they convey their thoughts in different circumstances and with different purposes.

If you write assignments all the time and don’t receive A-grades, it means you should change something. Ask your professor for advice: what can you improve? You may have some strengths, but it is not enough to focus on them. Get rid of the main mistakes first.

Whether you're a newbie or have some writing experience, a community of like-minded people with the same goals is a must. It will provide you with role models, supportive and critique feedback, new insights, and topics for discussions. You can organize writing classes, challenges , and meetings with creative writers. Such a writing community may help you to get rid of writer's block, and just have fun with new friends.

During the pandemic, you can organize meetings via Zoom or Skype, create Clubhouse rooms, etc. Share access to your texts on Google Docs or read them aloud to convey small nuances and emotions.

There are no versatile receipts as with academic writing because creativity essay example is not about rules and patterns. However, it doesn't mean that you should give up if you don't feel like a great author. Try as many techniques as you can to develop your style. Of course, you can’t adhere to it all the time since you need to meet the professor’s expectations. However, it is a good base for your writing skills.

Starting the blog is a good idea if you feel the need to share your point of view and interact with the audience. Treat it like your own startup: you have to research to analyze your target readers, try various topics, experiment with different types of creative writing, etc. You can create stories and share them with people, write about your life, comment on the latest news, etc. You'll see whether the world is ready to read your content, and your blog will provide you with news insights on future development. Moreover, you may find yourself in blogging and start a bright career.

Modern students are really lucky since they have the opportunity to learn from their favorite writers regardless of their age, location, or educational institution. For example, Margaret Atwood, the author of The Handmaid's Tale has her online course on the Masterclass platform. Stephen King also shares his tips with young writers, e.g., he advises writing at least 2000 words per day. You can sign up for the Creative Writing course on Coursera or The School of New York Times . Even Pixar has created its course about storytelling with short, animated tutorials.

So, whether you're pursuing the Master of fine arts or just want to write better, leverage creative writing programs to expand your knowledge.

It is normal if you don’t have the inspiration, mood, or energy to develop academic assignments. Writing is not about the work only; it is an art as well . If you don’t have enough experience, you may be confused with a busy workload when you always have to generate something new.

If you understand that you can’t meet the deadline and provide a decent result, hire a professional author who will help you with your assignment.

• W — W here, when, who, what, why . When you're writing the argumentative essay, you come up with a classic 3-paragraph structure that consists of the introduction, main body, and conclusion. Dissertations are more complicated , e.g., you need to include the abstract, the Discussion, and other sections. Though creative writing is pretty different, you need to structure it as well. Use 5 Ws to introduce the setting, characters, plot, some kind of reflection.
• R — R esearch . You don't write from your head only. Great writers spend months and years finding information for their pieces. Of course, you don't have to visit another continent right now or spend a week in a library, but you need some kind of research if you want to add plausibility to your writing. For example, if your character is a nurse, think about a volunteering internship to gain new knowledge and describe it later.
• I — I mages and Imagination . Though you use words, you have to paint with them so that your readers see your stories. It means you shouldn't write that your character is greedy, write that he has never spent more than $15 on clothes. Describing the appearance, use adjectives and metaphors so that it is easy to imagine the real person.
• T — T enacity . Don't think that you'll become a great creative writer at once. You should be ready for the challenging path with victories and defeats. Don't give up on first difficulties, and try to learn lessons from them. Whether you have a goal to get A-grades only, reach 1000 subscribers on your blog, or publish your story in the magazine, you need to develop an action plan and work hard to fulfill it.
• E — E mpathy . Of course, you have your own ambitions. But the chances are you'll become a successful writer are low if you focus on your goals only. It means you have to consider your audience to make your language clear and stories interesting for them. They should recognize themselves and their friends in your characters, they should know what conflicts you are writing about and feel some emotions you want them to feel.
• R — R eality . Writing creative nonfiction, you surely have to base it on real-life stories, statistics, studies, etc. But even creative fiction can be realistic. Moreover, it should be realistic. Remember the "Alice in Wonderland". It is about the fictional world where animals can speak (and this is not the strangest thing!), but this world is still plausible. Working on your characters, you should understand how they would act and what is absolutely impossible in your setting.
• S — S implicity . Simplicity is a king these days. Get rid of long and confusing sentences, odd words, and pompous phrases. The best stories are always simple. What is interesting, it is not that easy to write this way. Sometimes it takes more time to write a short but informative paragraph in plain English than to come up with an essay full of water. So, proofread your texts and make sure each word contributes to the main idea.

Creative Techniques You Can Use to Improve Your Essay

When you read some brilliant texts, you may think they are written from scratch, in one go. There are authors with talent from nature, and they can choose the right words and put them on a sheet in a way that attracts and mesmerizes readers. Honestly, it is not always about talent. In most cases, it is about the experience. If you want to impress the professor and develop your skills to become a great writer, you need to practice.

We want to provide you with 6 interesting techniques that will make your writing better. Use some of them, or try to experiment, combining different methods in the same project. One day, you’ll develop your style based on gained knowledge, insights, and experience.

Usually, even when you're writing a personal essay, you adhere to some rules and patterns, outline, think about its structure, etc. Your brain has certain neural connections that help you to use all the knowledge you have so far. Since they are pretty useful, sometimes they can limit you. That's where freewriting comes to the rescue.

It is a creative writing exercise when you don't have to plan your writing in advance. You just get rid of all distractors, take your pen, and start. Write down everything that comes to your mind: weather, your breakfast, your career plans, your doubts about the future novel, etc. Julia Cameron, a renowned author, and artist advises writing "morning pages" as soon as you wake up when your brain is not overloaded with the daily stuff.

Usually, papers are divided into three parts we have explained above. Start with the setup, proceed to the confrontation, and finish up with the resolution. If you’re not an experienced author, it is better to follow the exact structure and stay on track until you feel confident enough to change something in the traditional structure.

Before you start writing, try to practice. Read some essay samples, short stories, and novels, and define their three acts. You will see how other authors transit from one section to another, which words they use, and how they communicate with readers. Inspire by their approaches and try to implement them in your piece. Later, you’ll be able to come up with your literary structure and techniques.

If you want to get an A-grade, start your text with a bang. You need to make readers fall in love with your text from the very first sentences. That’s why the introduction sometimes takes even more time than the central part.

The opening depends on the topic and the particular genre of your text. For example, when it is an admission essay, you can start with a short description of your motivation. But writing a fiction story gives free rein to your fantasy and creativity. You can transport readers directly back to the midst of the action, describe the imaginary world, and so on. Try to keep an intrigue since people should be interested in the further development of events. Give a hint that you will reveal the plot and provide more significant detail in the text's body.

A metaphor is a significant literary technique that can be used in any form of writing. It is beneficial to create an image that will explain to your audience the points you’re trying to convey. Remember the extended metaphor from Shakespeare "It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!". There is no need to write that Juliet was beautiful when you can compare it to the sun. All readers have their associations with this star, and not in a geographical sense. So, they are confident that they know what Shakespeare means, even if the author had other intentions.

Use extended metaphors when you want readers to identify themselves with your piece. Find a decent analogy to share your thoughts and implement them in the text mindfully.

As with any other form of writing, you should define your target audience and consider it above all else. Of course, it is just an academic assignment, and you have a couple of days before the deadline, your main goal is the professor. Most likely, one has provided you with instructions, and you should meet these expectations. But if it comes to a creative project, it would be a great idea to conduct a little research and find information about your potential readers when you have enough time. You have to develop a deep understanding of who they are so you can pique their interest and hold it till the last word.

It is not so easy to write creatively after various dry academic assignments. If you focus solely on facts, you can’t attract a broad audience. Of course, it works perfectly for a research project, a scientific piece, or a case study, but it’s certainly not relevant for such disciplines as history, culture, art, English literature, etc. It is where details are of great importance.

For example, writing about a particular historical epoch, you can mention aspects of a traditional lifestyle and provide quotes from contemporaries and interesting archaeological evidence. Try to think deeper and make some conclusions from the information you have found. What can you say about people of that epoch according to the furniture and clothes they used? There are many pieces about their everyday life, but it would be more interesting to think of their characters, habits, feelings, etc.

The main secret of creative writing is to be creative. You should write sincerely, from your soul. Then your readers will believe you.

There are a lot of authors with published books. But some of them are great, while others are quite mediocre. If you want to join the first group, you need to develop not your writing skills only. Think about the energy and the passion you put in the text. If you don’t believe in your ideas, don’t share them yourself, your audience won’t feel it.

That’s why it is vital to choose topics that you like. It is not the most straightforward task since sometimes your professor instructs you with particular requirements you can’t ignore. But even in these cases, you need to find something that you can hook to.

A creative writing essay is an essay that uses creative writing techniques, but still has a basis in reality. Most creative essays are anecdotal in nature, told from the viewpoint of the writer.

Before you begin writing, you first need to choose a topic and outline your creative essay structure. Once that’s done, you can begin writing your first draft, after which you should revise as necessary until you have a final product you’re happy with. Also, don’t forget to include an attention-grabbing title!

There are four different types of creative writing you should make yourself familiar with. These are the expository form, the descriptive form, the narrative form, and the persuasive form.

Creating writing can undoubtedly prove a challenge, but those in possession of particular skills and qualities may find it easier than those who don’t. Such ones possess a talent for using language in an evocative way, can pay attention to the structure of a piece, and can find inspiration in just about anything.

There are seven common styles of writing you are likely to encounter in high school and beyond into college and university. They are narrative, persuasive, expository, reflective, personal, compare and contrast, and descriptive.

Creative writing is enjoyable because of the freedom it allows, but that freedom is part of what makes it so challenging as well, since it can make choosing a topic quite difficult. It can also be quite challenging to write in a way that is engaging to people, utilizing strong images, evocative words, and other creative essay writing techniques.

In the first few sentences of your creative essay, you should make it clear what the subject matter of your assignment is and why it matters to you. Make sure that you also include a hook to grab your reader’s attention from the start.

At the risk of sounding pretentious, each person on this planet is really nothing more than a collection of stories; learning the craft of creative writing allows us to do those stories justice. On a more practical level, studying creative writing can help you to learn an adaptable set of transferable skills, which can be applied to countless careers.

Creative writing delves into the imagination, exploring ideas in a poetic, descriptive medium. This can make it easier for others to engage in your work, as it helps to make it even more impactful and emotive.

At college and university, creative writing courses help you to develop a broad range of skills. Not only will you learn how to write creative prose for stories, narrative essays, and so on, but you’ll also be taught poetic techniques as well as screenwriting.

Reading can teach you about the craft and spark fresh ideas. Writing often is another wonderful tip. If you quit exercising, your creative brain won't get stronger.

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I studied sociology and marketing at Europa-Universität Viadrina (Germany) and Universidade da Beira Interior (Portugal). When I was a sophomore, back in 2018, I decided to put what I've learned into practice, so I got my first job in digital marketing. I currently work in the content marketing department at Studybay, building strong, effective, and respectful communication between the platform and our clients.

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How to Write a Strong Creative Essay

An essay is a special type of written assignment that requires much more from the student than good research skills. The biggest component of successful essay writing is writing skills, and most people aren’t born with a set of skills that a professionally written essay requires. We acquire writing skills throughout our education, but what if you have an essay due in a couple of days and fear that your might lack creative writing skills?

This isn’t an uncommon situation at all – many students and newbie writers realize that putting their thoughts into words that will engage the audience and make up an interesting piece of writing isn’t the easiest thing in the world. However, there is also no need to become desperate, as we have some helpful tips to make your creative writing assignment easier and more successful.

What Is A Creative Essay?

So what exactly makes creative writing so different from anything else you’ll encounter in your life as a student and more challenging than any other assignment? A creative essay is a type of nonfiction writing, which means it should be based on real-life events. Unlike technical literature or journalistic pieces, creative essay doesn’t simply inform readers of an event or concept – it introduces the subject in a way that is fascinating and informative to the audience.

A creative essay writer can use different methods to convey their point of view: in many successful creative essays you will find as many literary devices as in a strong fiction piece. Depending on the purpose and the subject of the assignment, you may be asked to write a descriptive or narrative essay .

4 Features Of Creative Essay

There are several types of creative essays you may sooner or later encounter, but all truly creative nonfiction essays have these 4 features in common:

• The writer should base their writing on thorough research and analysis of the facts, which should then be interpreted for the story.
• A good creative essay combines facts with fiction in a manner that is both enlightening and entertaining to the readers.
• The writer employs various techniques to engage the audience starting from the very first sentence of the essay and keeps them interested until the last word.
• A creative essay needs to be based on a major, universal experience.

This is essentially everything you need to know about creative essay as a genre. If you want to know how to write a convincing creative essay, keep reading for some helpful tips!

How To Pick The Right College Creative Essay Topic

If you are free to choose your own topic for the next creative essay assignment, here are some ways to find the perfect topic for your writing exercise:

• Find a concept that greatly influenced your opinion and tell your audience about it;
• Imagine you have been assigned as a keynote speaker: what would you talk about?
• Describe your biggest talent and how it helped you navigate through life;
• Choose one historical event from the past that influenced you the most and talk about it;
• Who is the one historical figure you would like to talk to and why?
• Choose a viral video or some other piece of content everyone is familiar with and analyze it.

How To Write A Creative Essay

Working on any writing assignment and creative essay in particular requires a lot of effort from you, and in order to do the best job with creating a convincing piece of writing, there are some rules you need to follow. As soon as you have the topic for your essay, it is time to brainstorm some ideas. The best way to keep the ideas organized and connected to each other is to create a mind map, which will highlight the links between different concepts and points of your writing.

The next thing you need to do is conduct thorough research using every method available to you to gather as much evidence supporting your ideas as possible. You can use internet for doing the research, but don’t forget to properly reference your findings in the writing. When enough research was done, you can move on to creating the outline of your work. And don’t forget to design a powerful thesis , as it will serve as the base for the rest of the essay.

Creative Essay Structure

The structure of a typical creative essay isn’t different from the most traditional written assignment structure you likely worked with before. Your creative essay needs to have an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and conclusion.

The introduction has to be powerful: view it as a way to grab attention of your readers and convince them to give your piece a more detailed look. The first sentence is especially important in this regard: you can use statistics, facts, quotes, or anecdotes as your hook. The final sentence of your introduction is a thesis statement – make sure to put some extra thought into it.

The next step in writing a creative essay is designing the body paragraphs. Each key point of your essay needs to be discussed in a separate paragraph. Start each paragraph with an opening sentence that explains what the readers are about to find out from the paragraph. Each point must be supported by strong evidence. You should also use smooth transitions between each paragraph to ensure a logical flow of the writing and showcase your excellent writing skills.

The conclusion is the finishing touch that also influences the success of your essay. Here you can once again state your thesis, briefly reintroduce the supporting ideas, and tell the audience why your work is significant.

Editing and Proofreading

Even the most skilled writers create several drafts of their work before showing it to the audience. Editing your essay may take some time, but it’s the best way to make sure your writing meets the highest standards. When reading and editing your work, pay attention even to the smallest details: correct the structure and flow of the essay if necessary.

Proofreading is another important aspect of essay writing. While proofreading your essay, you not only have to correct possible grammar and punctuation mistakes, but also ensure that your choice of words fits proper academic style. Of course, spelling mistakes have no place in a quality creative paper.

Writing a Creative Essay Title

The title of your creative essay is the first impression the reader gets of your work, so it’s super important not to take time and pay enough attention to coming up with a great title for the essay .

The title should be completely relevant to the subject and grab the reader’s attention from the first words. The most effective strategy for designing a winning title is taking the most essential idea of the essay and rewriting it to make it even more powerful and engaging.

Do You Need Help with Creative Essay?

These tips explain the nature of writing creative essay and give you some valuable insight into how to do a great job in this challenging task. But what if writing is simply not your forte? What if you have been looking for the ideal essay topic for days but still haven’t found one? What if there is simply not enough time and you already have several other important assignments?

Many students struggle with writing creative essays, but there is one simple solution that will help you improve your grades in the most effortless way possible! Let our professional writers create the essay for you, strictly following all the guidelines and requirements you provide. We have every tool and solution to deliver custom-written academic papers whenever you want, so don’t hesitate and get in touch with us to get the help you need .

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How to Start a Narrative Essay

Last Updated: February 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 208,489 times.

A narrative essay tells a story, which allows you to flex your creative muscles. Your story may be fictional or nonfictional, depending on the requirements of your assignment. At first, starting your narrative essay might seem hard, but you can make your work simpler by narrowing down your topic and planning out your story. Then, you’ll be able to easily write your story’s introduction.

Choosing a Topic for Your Narrative

• If your instructor provides a rubric, read over it thoroughly to identify the expectations for full credit. Later, you can measure your essay against the rubric before turning in the assignment.
• If you have questions about the assignment, ask your instructor for clarification.

• List the first thoughts that come to mind when you think about the prompt or question.
• Make a mind map to sort out your ideas.
• Use freewriting to uncover story ideas. Simply write whatever comes to mind without worrying about grammar or making sense.
• Make an outline to help put your ideas in order.

• Don’t try to cover too much in one essay, as this will be too hard for your reader to follow.
• For example, let’s say the prompt reads: “Write about a setback that taught you perseverance.” You might want to write about an injury you overcame. To narrow down your story, you might focus on the first time you exercised your injured limb after the accident, as well as the difficulties you faced.

• For instance, the story about recovering from an injury might have a theme of overcoming hardships or persevering to reach a goal. You might want your reader to finish your story feeling inspired and uplifted. To achieve this feeling, you'd want to focus on your successes throughout the process and end the story with a positive thought.

Planning Your Story

• If you are a character in your story, you will still need to complete this step. It's up to you how much detail you want to write down about yourself. However, it's helpful to take note of your description, interests, and desires at the time the story takes place, especially if a lot of time has passed.
• A main character description might look like this: “Kate, 12 - An athletic basketball player who suffers an injury. She wants to recover from her injury so she can return to the court. She’s the patient of Andy, a physical therapist who is helping her recover.”
• A side character description might read like this: “Dr. Lopez is a friendly, fatherly middle-aged doctor who treats Kate in the emergency room.”

• For example, a story about overcoming a sports injury might include a few settings, such as the basketball court, the ambulance, the hospital, and a physical therapy office. Although you want to show your reader each setting, you'll spend the most time on the main setting of your story.
• You might list the following descriptors about the basketball court: “squeaky floor,” “roar of the crowd,” “bright overhead lights,” “team colors in the stands,” “smell of sweat and sports drinks,” and “wet jersey sticking to my back.”
• Your story may feature several different settings, but you don't need to provide the same level of detail about each one. For instance, you may be in an ambulance for a brief moment in the scene. You don't need to fully describe the ambulance, but you might tell the reader about "feeling cold and alone in the sterile ambulance."

• For example, you might introduce a young basketball player who is about to make a big play. The incident that kicks off the story might be her injury. Then, the rising action is the basketball player’s efforts to complete physical therapy and get back into the game. The climax might be the day of tryouts for the team. You might resolve the story by having her find her name on the team list, at which point she realizes she can overcome any obstacle.
• It’s helpful to use Freytag’s triangle or a graphic organizer to plan your essay. Freytag's triangle looks like a triangle with a long line to its left and a short line to its right. It's a tool that helps you plan out your story's beginning (exposition), an incident that starts your story's events, the rising action, a climax, the falling action, and the resolution of your story.
• You can find a Freytag's triangle template or a graphic organizer for your narrative essay online. [8] X Research source

• The most common types of conflict include person vs. person, person vs. nature, and person vs. self. Some stories will have more than one type of conflict.
• In the story about the young athlete who gets injured, her conflict might be person vs. self, as she’s having to push through her pain and limitations.

• In most cases, a personal narrative will use the 1st person “I” point-of-view. For example, “Over my last summer with my grandfather, I learned more than how to fish.”
• If you’re telling a fictional story, you might use the 3rd person point of you. Use your character’s name, as well as the appropriate pronouns like “he” or “she.” For instance, “Mia picked up the locket and opened it.”

Writing Your Introduction

• Start your essay with a rhetorical question. For instance, “Have you ever faced losing something that’s important to you?”
• Give a quote that fits your essay. You might write, “According to Rosa Gomez, ‘You don’t know how strong you are until a setback breaks you.”
• Provide an interesting fact that’s related to your story. As an example, “About 70% of kids will stop playing sports by the age of 13, and I was almost one of them.”
• Use a short anecdote that relates to the larger story. For your essay about overcoming an injury, you might include a short story about your best moment playing sports before your injury.
• Start with a shocking statement. You might write, “As soon as they loaded me into the ambulance, I knew I might never play sports again.”

• Let’s say your main character is you. You could write, “As a tall, lean 12-year-old, I easily outplayed the other girls on the court.” This gives the reader a picture about what you might look like, as well as your interest in sports and athletic ability.
• If you’re telling a fictional story, you might introduce your character like this: “As she walked toward the high school debate podium, Luz exuded confidence from her Kate Spade headband down to her thrift shop Betsey Johnson pumps.” Not only does this help the audience picture Luz, but it also shows that she puts effort into her appearance. The fact that she shops at thrift stores might indicate that her family isn’t as wealthy as she portrays.

• You might write, “It was my 7th-grade year, and I knew I had to make varsity if I were going to get attention from the high school coaches.”
• Sensory details trigger your senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. As an example, “My shoes squeaked across the court as I dribbled toward the goal line, the red basket in sight. Sweat made the ball feel slippery against my fingertips, and its salty taste coated my lips.”

• For instance, you might write, “I never expected that pass across the court to be my last for the season. However, recovering from my injury taught me I’m a strong person who can accomplish anything I set out to do.”

Sample Introduction and Outline

Expert Q&A

• A narrative essay will always tell a story, so make sure your essay has a clear plot. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0

• Don’t borrow someone else’s ideas for your story or copy someone else’s writing. This is plagiarism and can result in severe academic penalties, including loss of credit. Thanks Helpful 38 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://www.nova.edu/tutoring-testing/study-resources/forms/planning-narrative-essay.pdf
• ↑ https://spcollege.libguides.com/c.php?g=254430&p=1697470
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/narrative_essays.html
• ↑ https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Literature_and_Literacy/Writing_and_Critical_Thinking_Through_Literature_(Ringo_and_Kashyap)/02%3A_About_Creative_Nonfiction/2.02%3A_Elements_of_Creative_Nonfiction
• ↑ https://penandthepad.com/start-narrative-essay-english-7667341.html

About This Article

If you’re struggling to start your narrative essay, find a way to encourage your reader to keep reading and introduce your main characters. Since opening lines can pull a reader in, choose something catchy that’s related to your story. For example, if your essay is about loss, you could open with a question like, “Have you ever faced losing something that’s important to you?” Then, add some details about your story’s setting that will interest the reader, such as describing how your trainers squeaked as you dribbled across the court if your story is about sports. You should also include enough information about the main character to peak the reader’s interest, like “She was a tall, lean 12-year-old,” but not too much so they know everything. For tips from our Writing co-author on how to plan out your entire narrative essay before you start writing, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay , along with the descriptive essay , allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing .

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Table of contents

What is a narrative essay for, choosing a topic, interactive example of a narrative essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about narrative essays.

When assigned a narrative essay, you might find yourself wondering: Why does my teacher want to hear this story? Topics for narrative essays can range from the important to the trivial. Usually the point is not so much the story itself, but the way you tell it.

A narrative essay is a way of testing your ability to tell a story in a clear and interesting way. You’re expected to think about where your story begins and ends, and how to convey it with eye-catching language and a satisfying pace.

These skills are quite different from those needed for formal academic writing. For instance, in a narrative essay the use of the first person (“I”) is encouraged, as is the use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense.

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Narrative essay assignments vary widely in the amount of direction you’re given about your topic. You may be assigned quite a specific topic or choice of topics to work with.

• Write a story about your first day of school.
• Write a story about your favorite holiday destination.

You may also be given prompts that leave you a much wider choice of topic.

• Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
• Write about an achievement you are proud of. What did you accomplish, and how?

In these cases, you might have to think harder to decide what story you want to tell. The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to talk about a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

For example, a trip where everything went according to plan makes for a less interesting story than one where something unexpected happened that you then had to respond to. Choose an experience that might surprise the reader or teach them something.

Narrative essays in college applications

When applying for college , you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities.

For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay.

In this context, choose a story that is not only interesting but also expresses the qualities the prompt is looking for—here, resilience and the ability to learn from failure—and frame the story in a way that emphasizes these qualities.

An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” is shown below.

Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
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If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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How to Write a Creative Essay: Tips, Topics, and Techniques

What is a creative essay, if not the way to express yourself? Crafting such a paper is a task that allows you to communicate your opinion and tell a story. However, even using your imagination to a great extent doesn’t free you from following academic writing rules. Don’t even get us started about other components of papers. With tools like research paper title page generators available, it only proves to be a serious business.

Confused yet?

No need to be! Creativity can be worked into many different types of essays. You just have to know how to write a creative essay deftly, thus:

• paying attention to your reader;
• using an essay structure;
• incorporating details and metaphors;
• don’t be afraid to speak your mind!

Turn to our writers when in doubt or read the rest of the article for more recommendations.

🎨 Types of Creative Essays

🧩 creative essay format, 🖌️ how to write a creative essay, 📜 creative essay topics.

Where analysis ends, creativity begins!

You can include creative expression in an essay or paper you write. Yet, some pieces are designed specifically to allow you to be creative. You can choose a topic that will set your imagination free.

Here are a few types of creative essays you can embrace:

• Narrative Essay :

The narrative essay is much like novel writing. This essay type can be used to discuss either real or imaginary events. The key in this type is that you have to show, not tell. For you to accomplish this, your essay will need a plot, many descriptive details, and well-written prose.

• Admission Essay :

The admission essay is becoming increasingly popular. When it is well-written, it allows you to stand out among thousands of students who are vying for admission to a particular program. The admission essay is a way for you to talk about yourself and why you would make a great addition to a program. Essentially, you are advertising yourself to show that you are the best choice.

• Personal Essay :

The personal essay is similar to the admission essay but less aggressive. This form of essay is used to talk about yourself and your experiences, trying to persuade the reader that a particular event or aspect of your personal life is significant in some way. Consider this form of creative writing essay a self-portrait that you paint with words.

• Descriptive Essay :

You can choose any topic you wish for the descriptive essay. The key is that the central idea should be of interest to or affect the reader. Once you select one, describe it throughout your essay, stating why it is crucial to you.

• Lyric Essay:

This is very much like the descriptive essay, except that it makes greater use of imagery and description.

• Americanism Essay :

The Americanism essay is popular with scholarship committees. This is the “why I am proud to be an American” essay.

• Reflection Essay:

The reflection essay offers you a way to provide feedback on an event or other topic with which you are not happy, or it bothers you in some way.

Victor Valley College and the University of Vermont offer some great advice on writing creative essays. Now let’s look at some techniques that will help you write creatively.

Creative essays usually follow the three-act story structure . It is a classic writing technique commonly used in storytelling, screenwriting, and drama. It divides a story into three parts: the setup , confrontation , and resolution . The three-act story structure allows for the effective development of characters and conflicts, which leads to more compelling writing.

Check out the creative essay format below.

The stage is set in this initial part of the story where the main characters, setting, and central conflict are introduced. Readers are given a glimpse into the story’s world and get to know the characters and their motivations. The setup establishes the foundation for the narrative, laying out the groundwork for the conflicts that will unfold.

Confrontation

Confrontation is where the story’s central conflict develops and the tension rises. Obstacles and complications that arise during that stage are meant to test the characters, pushing them to their limits. The confrontation is filled with rising action as the characters face increasingly difficult challenges.

The story reaches its climax, and the conflicts are brought to a head. The tension built up in the previous stage comes to its peak as the characters confront their challenges head-on. The resolution provides closure to the story, ties up loose ends, and resolves the central conflict.

The Oxford Royale Academy offers useful creative writing tips that can easily be applied to creative nonfiction.

The key is:

Creative writing is not solely about putting words on a page in a way that presents imaginative prose. You need to consider your writing in a certain way and structure it properly if you want to pull off an excellent creative essay.

Here are some tips and techniques for any creative nonfiction writing you do:

• Consider the reader: As with any other form of writing, you must consider the reader above all else. You have to have a deep understanding of who your audience is so you can pique their interest and hold it throughout the paper.
• Start it off right: You need to start your paper off with a bang! That means you have to have an opening to your essay or paper that will grab the attention of whoever reads it. This could be a bold phrase, the description of something that happened, or some profound or persuasive words. Your opening needs to scream, “Keep reading!”
• Use the traditional creative structure: Traditionally, creative essays are divided into three acts: the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution. In the first one, you will introduce the leading players and the situation. The confrontation will allow you to shift into the main issue. The resolution is the climax, during which the issue is resolved.
• Use metaphors: A metaphor is effective in any form of writing. In a creative essay writing, use an analogy to help provide the reader with a clear image. It should make them understand a concept you are explaining at a deeper level.
• Provide details: Details are everything when writing creatively as they tug at the readers’ emotions. Without them, your essay can be stale and boring, providing only one fact. Detail spruces it up and makes it come alive in the readers’ minds.
• Edit, edit, edit: Make sure to edit your work after you have written it. A writer rarely gets it right the first time.
• Think out of the box: Finally, here it comes—the piece of advice that every successful assignment demands. Try to approach the issue from an unusual angle!

The Oxford Royale Academy also has some great information on general essay writing that is sure to help!

Now, let’s take a look at some creative writing topics you might be able to use.

The goal behind any writing assignment that calls for creativity is simple. You have to express your feelings and opinions on a particular topic so that it captivates the reader. These creative papers and essays are not dry and boring the way most of us imagine academic works.

But what should you write about? You need some creative essay ideas. Whether the topic is assigned or you choose it yourself, you’ll have to decide how to approach it. If you pick an issue yourself, the options might be overwhelming.

With that in mind:

Let’s start on a journey to find fun essay topics! You can:

• Choose something you are interested in by making a list of issues or problems that matter to you.
• Narrow down a broader issue.
• Find inspiration from materials and records to which you have access or from your coursework.

There are plenty of topics for narrative essays and other creative writing essays on the Internet. Here are some great ideas for nonfiction writing topics to get your imagination moving:

• Describing thoughts inspired by a picture.
• Are art and nature vital parts of human life?
• Creativity can change the world.
• What is pride?
• The desire to travel lives in every person.
• My visit to Rio de Janeiro .
• Is it a good idea to be a stay-at-home mother?
• Various feelings about cheating .
• Is early marriage a good or a bad thing?
• The importance of the Era of Good Feelings for American history.
• What will your future be in five years?
• Family fitness night is a great way to unite a family.
• Bachata as a music genre.
• How do you understand love ?
• The role of money issues in strong relationships.
• What person can be a true friend?
• The definition of jealousy .
• Is creativity a panacea from depression?
• Emotional intelligence is crucial for healthy relationships.
• Postmodernist and experimental dance forms.
• How I trained my dog at home.
• Poetry as a way to express emotions .
• What makes a strong marriage?
• Photography as a professional art and creative hobby.
• Problems in the neighborhood and how to deal them.
• Why do Carolina dogs make great pets?
• Feeling of joy and its value for people .
• How emotional intelligence can help me to become a great leader.
• The role of conservatism in preservation of traditional American culture.
• What can a freelancer do to stay creative?
• A memorable event from my past.
• Peculiarities of friendship in the age of media.
• Interconnection between emotions and memories.  
• Is consumerism a part of American culture?
• Different understanding of art.
• What can do to save lakes and oceans wildlife?
• Examples of the emotion of sadness in art.
• The creative way to organize a workplace at home.
• Emotions that paintings stir in people.
• Why Dresden is a great place to travel.
• How to fight the feeling of powerlessness .
• Personal experience adopting a pet from Humane Society.
• Is it possible for computers to have independent feeling?  

That’s it! When it comes to creative writing, you can do it! For more help on writing essays, check out this video.

If you still feel the task is too much to handle, you can turn to a custom writing service. Share the article with those who may need our advice and happy writing!

• Essays: Creative Nonfiction
• Overview of Creative Nonfiction: Purdue Online Writing Lab, College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University
• A Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction: MasterClass
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A compare and contrast essay — what is it? In this type of paper, you compare two different things or ideas, highlighting what is similar between the two, and you also contrast them, highlighting what is different. The two things might be events, people, books, points of view, lifestyles, or...

What is an expository essay? This type of writing aims to inform the reader about the subject clearly, concisely, and objectively. The keyword here is “inform”. You are not trying to persuade your reader to think a certain way or let your own opinions and emotions cloud your work. Just stick to the...

Have you ever tried to write a story analysis but ended up being completely confused and lost? Well, the task might be challenging if you don’t know the essential rules for literary analysis creation. But don’t get frustrated! We know how to write a short story analysis, and we are...

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When you are assigned an autobiography to write, tens, and even hundreds of questions start buzzing in your head. How to write autobiography essay parts? What to include? How to make your autobiography writing flow? Don’t worry about all this and use the following three simple principles and 15 creative...

“Where is your thesis statement?” asks your teacher in a dramatic tone. “Where is my what?” you want to reply, but instead, you quickly point your finger at a random sentence in your paper, saying, “Here it is…” To avoid this sad situation (which is usually followed by a bad...

A life experience essay combines the elements of narration, description, and self-reflection. Such a paper has to focus on a single event that had a significant impact on a person’s worldview and values. Writing an essay about life experience prompts students to do the following: You may struggle with such...

Who has made a significant impact in your life and why? Essay on the topic might be challenging to write. One is usually asked to write such a text as a college admission essay. A topic for this paper can be of your choice or pre-established by the institution. Either...

it was fascinating….but still you need to add more..tackle more on the format of a creative essay

Thank you for your detailed comment. Our team will take it into account.

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How to Start a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

Starting a research paper can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process much easier. This guide will walk you through each stage, from choosing a topic to finalizing your paper, ensuring you stay organized and focused. Whether you're new to research or looking to improve your skills, these steps will help you create a strong, well-structured paper.

Key Takeaways

• Select a topic that interests you and has enough available resources.
• Formulate a clear and focused research question to guide your study.
• Conduct a thorough literature review to understand existing research and identify gaps.
• Develop a detailed research plan with a timeline and methodology.
• Ensure proper formatting and citation to maintain academic integrity.

Choosing a Research Topic

Choosing a research topic is a crucial first step in writing a research paper. It sets the stage for your entire project, so it's important to choose wisely. Here are some steps to help you select a topic that is both interesting and feasible.

Identifying Your Interests

Start by thinking about what excites you. Pick a topic that you find fun and fulfilling. This will keep you motivated throughout your research. Make a list of subjects you enjoy and see how they can relate to your field of study. Your job will be more pleasant if you choose a topic that holds your interest.

Evaluating the Scope of the Topic

Once you have a few ideas, check if they are too broad or too narrow. A good topic should be manageable within the time you have. Ask yourself if you can cover all aspects of the topic in your thesis. For example, exploring the link between technology and mental health could be narrowed down to how WhatsApp use impacts college students' well-being.

Ensuring Availability of Resources

Before finalizing your topic, ensure that there are enough resources available. Conduct preliminary research to see if there is sufficient data and literature on your chosen topic. This step is vital as you may discover issues with your original idea or realize you have insufficient resources to explore the topic effectively. This key bit of groundwork allows you to redirect your research topic in a different, more feasible, or more relevant direction if necessary.

Formulating a Research Question

Understanding the importance of a research question.

A well-defined research question is the cornerstone of any successful research paper. It provides a clear focus and direction for your study, ensuring that your efforts are both relevant and meaningful. A strong research question helps you stay on track and avoid unnecessary detours. It also makes it easier to communicate the purpose and significance of your research to others.

Techniques for Crafting a Strong Research Question

To develop a compelling research question, start by identifying your interests and the gaps in the existing literature. Use the 5 W's: who, what, where, when, and why , to explore different aspects of your topic. This approach will help you narrow down your focus and create a question that is both specific and researchable. Additionally, consider the feasibility of your question by evaluating the availability of resources and the scope of your study.

Aligning Your Question with Objectives

Your research question should align with the objectives of your study. This means that it should be directly related to what you aim to achieve through your research. Clearly defined objectives will guide your research process and ensure that your question remains relevant throughout your study. By aligning your question with your objectives, you can produce a coherent and focused research paper that effectively addresses the problem at hand.

Conducting a Literature Review

Gathering Relevant Sources

Start by collecting sources that are related to your research topic. Use libraries, online databases, and academic journals to find books, articles, and papers. Skimming sources initially can save you time; set aside those that seem useful for a more thorough read later.

Analyzing Existing Research

Once you have gathered your sources, read through them carefully. Take notes on key points and different viewpoints. This will help you understand the current state of research in your field. Look for common themes and debates that can inform your own work.

Identifying Research Gaps

As you analyze the existing research, look for areas that haven't been explored or questions that haven't been answered. These gaps can provide a direction for your own research and make your thesis more valuable. Identifying these gaps is crucial for crafting a strong research question and ensuring your work contributes new knowledge to the field.

Developing a Research Plan

Creating a solid research plan is crucial for the success of your thesis. It helps you stay organized and ensures that you cover all necessary aspects of your research.

Writing the Thesis Introduction

Establishing context.

Starting your thesis introduction can be daunting, but it's crucial for setting the stage for your research. Establishing the context for your study helps readers understand the background and significance of your work. This section should provide a clear overview of what your thesis will cover, making it easier for readers to follow your arguments.

Crafting a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the heart of your introduction. Typically, it is placed at the end of the introductory paragraph. This statement should succinctly present the main argument or focus of your thesis, guiding the reader on what to expect.

Justifying the Research Problem

Once you have your research question, you need to justify why it is important. Explain the significance of your research problem in the context of existing literature. Highlight the gaps your research aims to fill and how it will contribute to the field. This step is crucial for crafting a bachelor thesis that stands out.

Structuring the Research Paper

Organizing sections.

A well-structured research paper is essential for clarity and coherence. Start by dividing your paper into key sections: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Each section should serve a specific purpose and contribute to the overall argument of your paper. Organize your research by identifying main topics and subtopics, gathering relevant sources, and summarizing key points. This will help you maintain a logical flow throughout your paper.

Ensuring Logical Flow

Ensuring a logical flow between sections and paragraphs is crucial. Use transitions to connect ideas and guide the reader through your arguments. Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by supporting evidence and analysis. This approach not only enhances readability but also strengthens your argument.

Maintaining Coherence

Coherence is achieved when all parts of your paper work together to support your thesis statement. To maintain coherence, make sure each section and paragraph aligns with your research objectives. Regularly review your work to ensure that your ideas are presented logically and that your voice remains dominant. Cite sources carefully to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the original authors.

Data Collection and Analysis

Choosing data collection methods.

Selecting the right data collection methods is crucial for the success of your research. Data collection is the process of gathering, measuring, and analyzing accurate data. Consider methods such as surveys, interviews, or experiments based on your research needs. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, so choose the one that best fits your study.

Analyzing Data Accurately

Once you have collected your data, the next step is to analyze it accurately. Use statistical tools and software to help you interpret the data. Create tables and graphs to illustrate your findings clearly. This will help you present your results in a structured and understandable way.

Interpreting Results

Interpreting your results is an essential part of your thesis. Discuss how your findings relate to your research questions and the existing literature. Highlight the significance of your analyses and the reliability of your findings. This will help you draw meaningful conclusions and provide valuable insights into your research topic.

Drafting and Revising the Paper

Writing the First Draft

Start by writing your first draft without worrying too much about perfection. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper. This initial draft is your chance to explore your thoughts and structure your argument. Remember, the goal is to create a foundation that you can build upon.

Incorporating Feedback

Once you have a draft, it's time to incorporate feedback. Share your work with your thesis supervisor and peers. Their insights can help you see your work from different perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Revising is a continuous process of re-seeing your writing. It involves considering larger issues like focus, organization, and audience.

Polishing the Final Draft

Finally, polish your final draft. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Ensure that your thesis is clear, concise, and free of errors. This step is crucial for making a strong impression and effectively communicating your research findings.

Proper Formatting and Citation

Adhering to style guides.

When formatting your research paper, it's crucial to follow the specific style guide recommended by your institution. Common styles include APA, MLA, and Chicago. Each style has its own set of rules for formatting headings, tables, and references. Adhering to these guidelines ensures your paper meets academic standards and is easy to read.

Citing Sources Correctly

Citing your sources correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original authors. Typically, a citation can include the author's name, date, location of the publishing company, journal title, or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) . Use the citation style specified by your university, such as APA or MLA . For example, in APA format, an in-text citation might look like this: (Smith, 2020).

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. To avoid it, always cite the sources you use in your research. This not only gives credit to the original authors but also adds credibility to your work. Use tools like Grammarly’s Citation Generator to ensure your citations are flawless and your paper is free from plagiarism.

Maintaining Academic Integrity

Understanding academic integrity.

Academic integrity is the foundation of any scholarly work. It involves being honest and responsible in your research and writing. Maintaining academic integrity ensures that your work is credible and respected. It also means giving proper credit to the original authors of the sources you use. This practice not only helps you avoid plagiarism but also strengthens your arguments by backing them up with credible sources.

Strategies to Avoid Plagiarism

To avoid plagiarism, always cite your sources correctly. Use a consistent citation style, such as APA or MLA, and make sure to include all necessary information. Here are some tips to help you:

• Paraphrase information in your own words and cite the source.
• Use quotation marks for direct quotes and include a citation.
• Keep track of all the sources you consult during your research.
• Use plagiarism detection tools to check your work before submission.

Ensuring Originality

Ensuring the originality of your work is crucial. This means that your ideas and findings should be your own, even if they are based on existing research. Here are some ways to ensure originality:

• Conduct thorough research to understand what has already been done in your field.
• Identify gaps in the existing research and focus on filling those gaps with your work.
• Develop your own unique perspective or approach to the topic.
• Regularly review and revise your work to ensure it reflects your original ideas.

By following these steps, you can maintain academic integrity and produce a research paper that is both credible and original.

Finalizing the Research Paper

Proofreading and editing.

Before submitting your research paper, it's crucial to proofread and edit your work thoroughly. Start by reviewing the content for clarity and coherence. Ensure that each section flows logically and that your arguments are well-supported. Pay close attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as these can detract from the professionalism of your paper. Consider reading your paper aloud or using a text-to-speech tool to catch mistakes you might have missed.

Preparing for Submission

Once you have polished your paper, it's time to prepare it for submission. Make sure you adhere to the specific formatting guidelines provided by your institution or the journal you are submitting to. This includes checking the font style and size, margins, and page numbering. Ensure that all citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required style guide, such as APA or MLA. Double-check that your paper meets all the submission requirements, including word count and any additional documents that need to be included.

Seeking Peer Review

Before finalizing your research paper, seek feedback from peers or mentors. A fresh set of eyes can provide valuable insights and help identify areas for improvement that you might have overlooked. Share your paper with colleagues or use online platforms to get constructive criticism. Incorporating feedback from others can enhance the quality of your work and ensure that your arguments are clear and compelling.

Wrapping up your research paper can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Our step-by-step Thesis Action Plan is here to guide you through every stage, making the process smoother and less stressful. Ready to conquer your thesis challenges? Visit our website now and discover how we can help you achieve your academic goals.

Starting a research paper can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes the process much easier. By choosing a topic that interests you, conducting thorough research, and organizing your findings, you lay a strong foundation for your paper. Remember to create a clear thesis statement to guide your writing and keep your arguments focused. Drafting, revising, and seeking feedback are crucial steps to refine your work. Finally, ensure your paper is well-formatted and free of errors. With dedication and careful planning, you can successfully navigate the research paper writing process. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i choose a research topic.

Start by thinking about what interests you. Pick a topic that you find fun and fulfilling. This will keep you motivated throughout your research. Also, make sure there are enough resources available on the topic.

Why is a research question important?

A research question guides your study, helping you focus on a specific issue. It makes your research more organized and meaningful.

What is the purpose of a literature review?

A literature review helps you understand what has already been studied about your topic. It shows gaps in the research that your study can fill.

How do I create a research plan?

Outline your methodology, create a timeline, and allocate resources. This helps you stay organized and ensures you cover all necessary aspects of your research.

What should be included in the thesis introduction?

Your thesis introduction should establish the context, present your thesis statement, and justify the research problem. This sets the stage for your study.

How do I ensure my research paper is well-structured?

Organize your sections logically, ensure a smooth flow of ideas, and maintain coherence throughout the paper. Each part should connect well with the others.

What are the best methods for data collection and analysis?

Choose methods that best suit your research needs, such as surveys, interviews, or experiments. Use statistical tools to analyze data accurately and interpret your results.

How can I avoid plagiarism in my research paper?

Always cite your sources correctly and follow the citation style recommended by your institution. Use plagiarism checkers to ensure your work is original.

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