Creativity and Creative Writing
What is Creativity?
Creativity is one of the most remarkable qualities of human beings. It is the force behind great works of art, scientific discoveries, technological innovations, and even simple everyday solutions. Whether it is an artist creating a masterpiece, an entrepreneur developing a groundbreaking product, or a student finding a unique way to solve a problem, creativity enables people to see possibilities beyond the ordinary.
Creativity, or creativeness, may be defined as a mental process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations between existing ideas and concepts. The products of creative thought, often referred to as divergent thinking, are characterized by both originality and appropriateness. In simple terms, creativity involves producing something novel while ensuring that it remains meaningful and relevant.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines creativity as “the ability to create,”(“CREATIVITY Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster”) while the Cambridge Dictionary describes it as “the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas.”(“CREATIVITY | English Meaning - Cambridge Dictionary”) These definitions highlight two essential aspects of creativity: innovation and imagination. Creativity is not limited to famous artists, writers, or inventors; it is present in everyday life. From designing a beautiful garden and preparing a unique recipe to solving workplace challenges, creativity shapes the way we interact with the world.
In the modern era, creativity has become increasingly important. Industries, educational institutions, and organizations actively seek creative thinkers who can generate fresh ideas and adapt to changing circumstances. Creativity encourages exploration, problem-solving, and personal expression, making it a vital skill for success in the twenty-first century.
Recent research by Green et al. (2024) explains creativity in three simple ways:
- Creativity as a Process – the mental activity through which a person develops new ideas or solutions.
- Creativity as a Person's Ability – the talent or tendency of an individual to think creatively and generate original ideas.
- Creativity as a Product – the final outcome, such as a poem, painting, invention, or story that is both novel and useful.
Thus, creativity is not limited to artists or writers. It can be found in everyday life whenever people use their imagination to produce something original and meaningful. In creative writing, creativity helps writers transform thoughts, emotions, and experiences into engaging stories, poems, and other literary works. (Green et al.)
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Figure 1. Distinguishing the Definitions of Creativity (from Green et al., 2024) |
What is Creative Writing?
Creative writing is a form of writing that emphasizes imagination, originality, and artistic expression. Unlike technical, academic, journalistic, or business writing, it focuses on conveying thoughts, emotions, experiences, and ideas in an engaging and imaginative manner. Creative writing allows writers to explore the world through stories, poems, plays, and other literary forms while expressing their unique voice and perspective.
According to Christopher Sullivan, MFA and adjunct instructor in the Creative Writing and English Program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), “Creative writing is any form of writing that exists outside of journalism, business writing or academic writing. It expresses an author's unique voice, writing style, thoughts and ideas in an engaging and imaginative manner.” This definition highlights the personal and expressive nature of creative writing.(What Is Creative Writing? | SNHU)
The Cambridge Dictionary defines creative writing as “the activity of writing stories, poetry, etc., or the stories, poems, etc. that are written.” This broad definition emphasizes the various literary forms through which creativity can be expressed.(CREATIVE WRITING | English Meaning - Cambridge Dictionary)
Similarly, Duke University describes creative writing as “a form of artistic expression that draws on the imagination to convey meaning through the use of imagery, narrative, and drama.” Unlike analytical or pragmatic forms of writing, creative writing relies on imagination and artistic techniques to communicate ideas and emotions. It includes genres such as
Poetry, Fiction (novels and short stories), Drama, Scripts, Screenplays, and Creative non-fiction.
The textbook Creative Writing: A Beginner’s Manual further explains that creative writing is associated with originality of thought and expression and is distinguished by the central role of imagination. While some forms of writing aim primarily to present facts objectively, creative writing uses imagination and subjectivity to create meaningful and engaging literary experiences.(Delhi University)
Creative writing is not merely a natural talent; it also requires discipline, practice, perseverance, and extensive reading. Through creative writing, individuals can express their emotions, challenge social norms, preserve cultural experiences, and communicate universal human truths. Thus, creative writing serves as both an art form and a powerful medium of personal and social expression.
References:
CREATIVE
WRITING | English Meaning - Cambridge Dictionary.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/creative-writing?__cf_chl_f_tk=Hhx7sVpTQLrt7UygiAIJISaP2LkTCSAKQ3uuptYXxjo-1782990637-1.0.1.1-toKPX.5eumYljfDw4mIPplMMui3GAMxf49R1PhtlELM.
Accessed 2 July 2026.
“Creativity.” Cambridge Dictionary, 1 July
2026, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/creativity.
“CREATIVITY | English Meaning - Cambridge Dictionary.”
Cambridge Dictionary,
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/creativity. Accessed 2 July
2026.
“Creativity - Wikipedia.” Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity. Accessed 2 July 2026.
“CREATIVITY Definition & Meaning -
Merriam-Webster.” Merriam-Webster,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creativity. Accessed 2 July 2026.
Delhi University. Creative Writing: A Beginner’s
Manual. Pearson, 2008,
https://www.amazon.in/Creative-Writing-Anjana-Neira-Dev-ebook/dp/B00A0OD38M.
Green, Adam E., et al. “The Process Definition of
Creativity.” Creativity Research Journal, vol. 36, no. 3, July 2024, pp.
544–72. DOI.org (Crossref),
https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2023.2254573.
What Is Creative Writing? | SNHU.
https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/liberal-arts/what-is-creative-writing.
Accessed 2 July 2026.
