Editor’s Choice — Top 10: Five Ingredients of Creative Writing

Let’s visit our top ten stories today

What if creativity was an error — that evolved?

For most people, creativity is something new. Something that didn’t exist before and came into existence all of a sudden.

When I watched The Expanse on Amazon, I was impressed by the creativity of the show. But later, I saw some episodes of Star Trek where the writers had created a region of space where ordinary laws of physics didn’t apply — they called it ‘the expanse’. So, The Expanse was not completely original, yet on IMDb, it scores 8.5 vs. Star Trek’s 8.3. Then, maybe, even Star Trek writers got this idea from some other writer.

Creativity is confusing, but these ingredients help me in the process:

1. Write if it makes you happy: If you are passionate about what you are writing, you’ll have more creative juices flowing in your system. Your wish to be happy — after you have written your first draft — will keep you motivated to edit your piece. Rewriting your own story seems a little dull at times. But if you are going to feel happy after hitting that publish button, your dopamine levels will keep you active till then.
2. Make mistakes: Once I emailed Paulo Coehlo to tell him that I was a big fan of his work. The answer that came back, was this: “Never be afraid of making mistakes. Success lies at the other end of those mistakes.” I was fourteen at that time and felt happy that Paulo Coelho had answered my email. Then my brother told me, “It’s an automated response. Nothing to be ******* proud of.” I said, “Whatever.” J.D. Salinger, the author of the Catcher in the Rye, told the New Yorker not to correct his typos or grammar mistakes (They had to agree with him.)
3. The big picture helps: When you consider what-if scenarios or see things from another’s viewpoint, you come up with a new picture of reality. When you juxtapose your picture of reality and this new picture of reality, your readers see a new kind of creative reality — like when you merge two images in Photoshop.
4. Forget your ego for a minute: When you are writing, you may be wrong. You may be writing something ridiculous. People may laugh at what you have written. Let them laugh. When you try to be creative, suspend all judgments — yours or theirs.
5. Combine different things: The essence of creativity is to make connections where none exist. If you know more, it’ll help you to create more dots to connect. What if humans are only software programs running in a giant supercomputer (the matrix)? What if humans are here for harvesting at a later date (Jupiter Ascending)? What if plants could think, move, act, and have political views?

Take any idea — old or new. If you can add and mix all these ingredients in your unique way, you’ll be able to write what others will find creative and satisfying.

As long as you are happy writing something, others will notice your happiness in your words. Words don’t just express meanings — words also convey your emotions.

So, go ahead, make someone happy by writing your story today.

Here is a list of our top 10 stories today — by writers who know how to mix the ingredients to craft a great story:

10. 14 Killer Ideas for Writing ‘Filler’ Stories

Melinda Crow. 30-year freelancer. You can find her on: Newsweek, Cruise Critic, MSN Travel. Writer’s Toolkit weekly series on The Writing Cooperative.

She is an accomplished writer. Her writing style is conversational and fun. She is writing about her content strategy. It was fun to read. Do check it out.

I’m a firm believer in splitting my attention between two distinct types of stories in my publishing schedule: features and fillers.

It’s an old-school method of retaining the reader’s attention, developed by publishers with far more inside knowledge than I have.

9. 10 Not so Secret Places to Find Ideas For Your Next Article

Jose Luis Ontanon Nunez. Industrial Designer & Communication Coach. Dyslexia, History, Personal Growth, Political & Trivia Writer. Father and Pet Lover.

He is a good writer. His style is full of tips and insights. Do check his other work.

Sometimes, thinking about what to write might be the toughest challenge in your day. Many authors say they experience “writer’s block” when it is really “content block” that they’re suffering. Once you find the theme for your next article, words will flow almost like a miracle.

8. The Consumer Trap

Destiny S. Harris is a prolific author of 400+ books — Inspiring others through self-education.

She is a wonderful writer. Her writing style is charming and full of suspense. If you like fantasy, you’ll love this story. Also, check her other work.

At some point, most of us have spent money on things that have little to no value — without thinking twice about it. Mindless spending has become a societal pandemic; and all the marketing strategies, advertising, and new things that are constantly being introduced to the market don’t make consuming less any easier.

7. Thinking Too Much and for Too Long Is Bad for the Results We Need

Patricia Haddock. Professional writer, editor, coach for personal and professional development. Writer for Mind Cafe, Writing Cooperative, & more.

She is an excellent writer. Her writing style is easy to follow, logical, and engaging. Do check her other work.

Too many ideas, too many options, too many tasks, too many [fill in] impair our ability to focus on just one task or project, yet focusing on one is necessary for maximum productivity and efficiency. Just as multitasking impairs focus, jumping from one idea to another scatters our ability to get the results we need.

6. The Rider At The Last Place Notices Others Are Doing It Wrong

Sepehr Vafaei. Studied Mechanical Engineering and Computing Science+Loves Art+Stock Trader+Marketing+Piano.

He is a fine writer. His writing style is well researched, full of suspense, and engaging. Do check his other work.

Steves Jobs was very clear on what he wants people to know about Apple. After all, it is a noisy world saturated with marketing campaigns. He believed that even a great brand needs investment and caring if it’s going to retain its relevance and vitality. He believed that marketing is about values. Apple didn’t say we are better than windows. Instead, they said we believe in changing the world and we do it by designing user-friendly products which happen to make great computers.

5. Science Says Spending Money Can Make You Happy

Sanidhya Samyak says, “In a constant search of ‘cozy’ — whatever that is. I write about books, lifestyle, spirituality, mindset,+ more!”

She is a fine writer. Her writing style is easy to follow, free-flowing, and engaging.

I think we can all agree that last year was a total shit-storm.

And if you’re anything like me, you must also believe that the new year gives us a fresh start: all the things weighing us down simply washes away into nothingness as the clock strikes midnight and your phone gets bombarded with messages from ‘friends’ who you haven’t talked to in the last 364 days.

4. This Simple Adjustment Can Help You Became a Significantly Better Creative

Boateng Sekyere. Valuer | Photographer | Writer.

He is a fabulous writer. His writing style is unique, engaging, and awe-inspiring. Don’t miss this one and check her other stories.

The rise in small and medium-scale enterprises is fueling the rise of freelancers globally, and platforms like Upwork and Fiver are the fertile grounds breeding many of these freelancers.

While this rise in freelancing doesn’t mean the traditional ways of building and running businesses are dead, it sure means many people are comfortable with quietly building their thing in a small corner of their room.

3. An Amazingly Simple Writing Strategy You Need To Do This Month

J.R. Heimbigner says, “I am #1 Bestselling Author, Top Writer on Medium.”

He is an excellent writer. His writing style is easy, free-flowing, and informative. Don’t skip this piece. Also, check his other work.

I think you are working too hard.

That’s right, coming up with 10 ideas a day, writing a new draft every one to two days, and publishing those different ideas and stories every day is probably wearing you out. I know it does for me.

So, why not simplify your writing life?

2. 5 Sexual Microaggressions White Men Say To Black Women

Rebecca Stevens A. says, “I write about racism, but there are so many other things I would like to write about instead. Help me dismantle racism so that I can get to that.”

Her writing style is simple, logical, and full of wisdom. She explains everything beautifully until the reader feels satisfied. Follow her and read her other work.

Being a Black woman in a predominantly white country isn’t easy. Due to the intersectionalities of gender and race, one can face either racism or sexism, or both at the same time. On top of that is the obscene sexual curiosity that white men have when it comes to Black women. It plays out in a number of ways — almost always humiliating for the woman who is subject to them.

1. 7 Questions About America (from My Danish Husband) I Just Can’t Answer

Anastasia Frugaard is writing and laughing about America and the pursuit of happiness.

She is an excellent writer. Her writing style is easy to understand, engaging, and fun to read. Don’t miss this great piece. Also, check her other work.

For a year and a half since moving to New York and then Los Angeles from his home country of Denmark, my husband has been asking me questions about this weird country of ours that I sometimes struggle to answer. It’s not that his questions are difficult. It’s just that I’m so used to the way things are here I don’t think to question it. But maybe I should.

Yesterday’s Top 10

The day before Yesterday

This post is part of the Top 10 Series — you can meet 500+ top writers with these links:

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Final Thoughts

If your story was selected in the Top 10, please share another story with a brief introduction and a short convincing review — in the comments. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the great articles.

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Iꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴀɴʏ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇ, ᴛʏᴘᴏ, ᴏʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇʀʀᴏʀ, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. Tʜᴀɴᴋs.

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