Creativity is often thought of as a talent someone is born with and not as a skill that can be learned. We all have something in ourselves that we want to share, but sometimes it is hard to express that in words. Despite what you might have heard growing up, you can learn to be a creative writer.

Find something to say

You cannot not put into words anything of substance if you have nothing to say, so go out and experience life. Put yourself outside your comfort zone, and do something that you would not normally do. Go on a hike, or see a concert. Next time you’re standing in line, stop pretending to do anything important on your cell phone and talk to the person next to you. We pass by people every day who have as intricate (or in my case, more intricate) lives as our own, and with each person you pass, you miss an experience.

Free Write

Even if you have determined something to write about, sometimes it’s hard to put those ideas down on paper. Free writing is a great way to start the process of getting words onto paper. Set aside a certain amount of time, and don’t stop writing until the timer has stopped.

Express Your Creativity through a Different Medium

As writers, we get caught up in our words, and we forget that words are here to express thoughts and ideas, not the words themselves. Sometimes an idea cannot fully be expressed through words alone, so if you find yourself at a loss for words, paint a picture, sculpt clay, or play an instrument. Find another outlet for your creativity so that you can let your ideas flow.

Read Everything and Anything

It is hard to determine if your writing is good if you have no concept of what good writing is, so start reading good literature. Don’t solely read the same two authors. Read a wide away of genres, nationalities, ages, genders, personalities, anything. Be as diverse as you can, so you know what is out there. Even if you do not like a writer, read their works and determine what it is about their writing that you don’t like. That way you won’t replicate their mistakes.