Creative writing is all about playing around with words on any given subject. It allows you to let your imagination run wild. Those of you thinking of writing your first novel tend to have that one vital ingredient required, an active imagination. It is through the power of that imagination that your first novel will be created.

More often than not when thinking of creative writing, we tend to believe itâ??s only for certain people when really anyone can do it. Itâ??s a great release for your passions and thoughts, giving you an ideal opportunity to put down all that musing. Creative writing is about committing to paper whatever you want, in the way you want to do it. The challenge of actually doing this, however, can be overwhelming to most people yet, if thatâ??s all there is to it, then why donâ??t more people do it? The challenge of writing your first novel doesnâ??t have to be as daunting as it may seem.

IDEAS:

Use your local library and study all the different writing styles offered in short stories for inspiration and ideas.

Is there a chapter in your life you could use as a base for a short story? Remember that only you know itâ??s from your experience so you can expand as much or as little as you want; itâ??s your story.

Try this popular writing exercise. Get out a dictionary and, with your eyes closed, randomly pick out half a dozen words. With a timer set to, say, a quarter of an hour, freewrite on each chosen word and try to incorporate the said word within the first paragraph.

Pick up a ladiesâ?? magazine, open up at any page and again freewrite for fifteen minutes on the main photograph or picture on view.

As a writer, you will need to be able set down all emotions and feelings. The seven deadly sins are:

GREED -  strong and selfish desire for possessions, wealth or power.

LUST -  a passionate desire for something

ENVY – discontented longing aroused by someone elseâ??s possessions, quality or look

GLUTTONY – the habit or fact of eating excessively

WRATH – extreme anger

SLOTH – reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness

Each one of these words is fantastic to write about and can offer a multitude of dimensions to explore. Create a short story about each one, making it as long or short as your imagination allows.