INTRODUCTION TO

THE WORLD
RELIGIONS AND
BELIEF SYSTEM
Basically, this subject aims to help us, the learners to understand the historical contexts of nine
religions, appreciate their uniqueness and similarities and promote mutual understanding among
believers of different faiths. Hence, students are expected to demonstrate understanding and
appreciation of one’s faith and that of others. Introduction to World Religions provides an
introduction to key themes and concepts of religion. This learning resource begins with a
discussion of the origins of religion, indigenous religions, and the importance of studying
religion. The course reviews some of the most pervasive and influential world religions,
including Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam,
Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism.

Moreover, this subject explores major world religions and belief systems for students to
understand their significant principles and core teachings and identify their commonalities. In
doing so, it is hoped that they will gain insights into the meaning and value of life; how an
individual relates to oneself, the family, society, and nature; and that they will be able to
determine the means to achieving personal happiness and fulfillment. The book uses prayers and
religious texts as guides for reflection and discussion and presents discussion questions and
activities that allow students to clarify their knowledge, deepen their understanding, and relate
the teaching of the world religions to their own beliefs.

The learners are expected to demonstrate understanding of belief system or worldview, Religion,
Spirituality, Philosophy of Religion, Theology, the elements of religion, belief system, and
spirituality. Being familiar with the following terms and concepts are very important as an
introduction:

1. ‘Materialism’ is the philosophical doctrine that physical matter is the only ultimate reality. It
maintains that all that exists is reducible to matter or to qualities or upshots of matter.

2. Theists believe that unlike opposing ethical theories, theistic moral system (which is also
called ‘moral supernaturalism’) can satisfactorily explain the existence of objective ethical
values and moral laws.

3. Worldview is more than culture as it extends to perceptions of time and space, of happiness
and of well-being. In fact, the beliefs, values, and behaviors of a culture stem from its
worldviews.

4. Derived from the German term ‘weltanschauung,’ the term ‘worldview’ refers to the cluster of
beliefs an individual holds about the most significant concepts of life such as God, the cosmos
(universe), and humanity. These beliefs, which may or may not be true, form a general picture, a
broad-spectrum outlook, or a grand perspective on life and the world.

5. ‘Spirituality’ is one’s integrative view of life. It involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate
value of life as opposed to an instrumentalist or materialistic attitude to life.
6. The word ‘philosophy’ came from the Greek words ‘philo’ (love) and ‘sophia’ (wisdom) and
is thus literally defined as “the love of wisdom”. Considered by some as ‘the mother of all
branches of knowledge’, it may be defined as the systematic examination of principles and
presuppositions of any field of inquiry, including religion.

7. “Seekers” are those people who are looking for a spiritual home but contemplate recovering
earlier religious identities. These SBNRs embrace the “spiritual but not religious" label and are
eager to find a completely new religious identity or alternative spiritual group that they can
ultimately commit to.

8. Belief systems are often deemed as convictions, often in the form of supernatural or religious
beliefs, though they may also take the form of scientific views, or any philosophical belief
relating to the sphere of daily life.

9. Religious scriptures are the so-called sacred texts which religions consider to be central to
their faith. Religious texts may be utilized to “evoke a deeper connection with the divine, convey
spiritual truths, promote mystical experience, foster communal identity, and to guide individual
and communal spiritual practice” (“Religious Text,” n.d.).

10. Generally, a ‘ritual’ is a “sequence of activities involving gestures, words, and objects,
performed in a sequestered place, and performed according to set sequence” (“Ritual,” n.d.).
Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community.

11. Other polytheists are ‘kathenotheists,’ that is, worshiping different gods or goddesses at
different times.

12. The term ‘monotheism’ comes from the Greek ‘μόνος’ (‘monos’) meaning “single” and
‘θεός’ (‘theos’) meaning ‘god.’ It characterizes the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
—religions that had grown up in opposition to polytheism. (for the monotheist religions, read
about 3 Major Religions of the World)

13. The spiritual dimension (spirit) is described as a unifying force within individuals,
integrating and transcending all other dimensions. This dimension is also described as God-
consciousness, or related to a deity or supreme values.

14. This worldview finds its roots in empiricism, which claims that all valid knowledge is
derived from experience, and in positivism, which denies all metaphysical concepts. Ethically,
naturalism proposes that morality must be limited to non-spiritual context since it denies any
supernatural end for humankind.

15. A religion is also viewed as “an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and
worldviews that relate humanity to an order of existence” (“Religion,” n.d.). Many religions
possess holy scriptures, narratives, or sacred accounts that aim to explain the origin and meaning
of life and the universe.

16. Webster’s dictionary defines theology as “the science of God or of religion; the science
which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the
doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice. . . the science of Christian faith and
life.” In the fifth-century, the philosopher Augustine defined theology as “rational discussion
respecting the deity” (“Theology,” n.d.).

17. ‘Philosophy of religion’ refers to the philosophical study of the main themes and concepts
involved in religions. It may also include an enquiry into the religious significance of historical
events (e.g., the Holocaust) and the general features of the cosmos, the laws of nature, and the
occurrence of conscious life.

18. A ‘mosque’ is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Many mosques” have elaborate
domes, minarets, and prayer halls, in varying styles of architecture … The mosque serves as a
place where Muslims can come together for ‘salat’ (prayer) as well as a center for information,
education, social welfare, and dispute settlement” (“Mosque,” n.d.).

19. Monism is a philosophical, cosmological, and metaphysical stand which proposes an ultimate
unity of all things, and that all seeming differences, distinctions, divisions, and separations are
ultimately only apparent or partial aspects of an ultimate whole. It is a theological stance that “all
is one, that there are no fundamental divisions, and that a unified set of laws underlie all of
nature.

20. Evolutionists claim that the existence of all life is explained by natural selection which for
them is a “blind, unconscious, no purpose, no mind, no vision, no foresight, no sight at all,
automatic process” (Dawkins, 2000, p. 14). In other words, all life allegedly originated through
intrinsically directionless series of processes as opposed to the planned and decisive creation by
God .

The following are worldviews about man’s perspective of God. (Serapio,2016).

1. Naturalism (e.g. Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism). It denies the existence of God. The
material universe is all that exist.

2. Pantheism (e.g. Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism; much New Age Consciousness. They believe
that only the spiritual dimension exists. All else is illusion. Man is spiritual and eternal.

3. Theism (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam). It means that God or gods created the Universe and
continued to actively participate of the world’s activities and in human history.
4. Spiritism: The world is inhabited by spirit beings who govern earthly activities. Man is created
by gods like the rest of the creatures on earth. Material things are real but they have spirits
associated with them.

5. Polytheism: This is the belief in many gods or deities. The culture of Ancient Greeks and
Romans depict this kind of beliefs.

CREATIVE
NON
FICTION
Creative Nonfiction encompasses many different forms of prose. As an emerging form, CNF is
closely entwined with fiction. Many fiction writers make the cross-over to nonfiction
occasionally, if only to write essays on the craft of fiction. This can be done fairly easily, since
the ability to write good prose—beautiful description, realistic characters, musical sentences—is
required in both genres.

The first key element of nonfiction—perhaps the most crucial thing— is that the genre relies on
the author’s ability to retell events that actually happened. The talented CNF writer will
certainly use imagination and craft to relay what has happened and tell a story, but the story must
be true. You may have heard the idiom that “truth is stranger than fiction;” this is an essential
part of the genre. Events—coincidences, love stories, stories of loss—that may be expected or
feel clichéd in fiction can be respected when they occur in real life.

Additionally, because Creative Nonfiction is focused on reality, it relies on research to render

events as accurately as possible. While it’s certainly true that fiction writers also research their
subjects (especially in the case of historical fiction), CNF writers must be scrupulous in their
attention to detail. Their work is somewhat takin to that of a journalist, and in fact some
journalism can fall under the umbrella of CNF as well.

The other key element, the thing present in all successful nonfiction, is reflection. A person
could have lived the most interesting life and had experiences completely unique to them, but
without context—without reflection on how this life of experiences affected the writer—the
reader is left with the feeling that the writer hasn’t learned anything, that the writer hasn’t grown.
We need to see how the writer has grown because a large part of nonfiction’s appeal is the
lessons it offers us, the models for ways of living: that the writer can survive a difficult or
strange experience and learn from it. In a moment of reflection, the author steps out of the story
to show a different kind of scene. This should ideally happen in small moments, maybe single
sentences, interspersed throughout the piece.

Currently, creative non-fiction is the most popular literary genre. The best creative nonfiction
tells a true story in an artistic — or literary — way. This means that the story has certain
elements, such as descriptive imagery, setting, plot, conflict, characters, metaphors, and
other literary devices. Usually, a work of creative nonfiction is narrated in first-person, though
sometimes it can be written in third-person. It can be lyric and personal or representing important
moments in history. They also might be more objective and scholarly, like many pieces of
investigative journalism.

When reading a work of creative nonfiction, it is important to remember the story is true. This
means the author does not have as much artistic freedom as a fiction writer or poet might,
because they cannot invent events which did not happen. It is worthwhile, then, to pay attention
to the literary devices and other artistic choices the narrator makes. Readers should consider:
what choices were made here about what to include and what to omit? Are there repeating
images or themes? How might the historical context influence this work?

DISCIPLINE
AND IDEAS
IN THE
 SOCIAL
SCIENCES
The subject, Discipline and Ideas in the Social Sciences consists of various concepts, theories,
and principles in the social sciences to enable students to analyze social problems and issues,
propose solutions, and identify ways to take action in service of their community and country. It
introduces students to the disciplines and ideas that form part of applied social sciences by
drawing on the theories and principles of psychology, Sociology, anthropology, and other
social sciences.

It aims to empower students in developing competencies in interacting and relating with other
individuals, groups, and communities; apply social science principles, practices, and tools in
addressing several appropriate development areas; and sharpen their analytical skills specifics
to the processes and life context where these applied disciplines are at work.

Social sciences are disciplines of academic study that examine different aspects of society. There
are several branches of social science, all of which share the same aim of studying how people
behave, interact and influence the world. It tell us about how society works, helping us
understand how to improve processes at a societal, community and individual level. As a result,
studying a social science subject can open up a lot of opportunities and provide students with a
wide range of valuable skills. It help uncover useful insights into society in a variety of ways -
from understanding how minds work, to how societies as a whole function. Social science is vital
for understanding important societal functions, such as economic growth and unemployment
triggers, as well as what makes people happy.

The top 10 disciplines of social sciences include:

1. Anthropology

 Also known as the 'science of humanity'. Anthropologists explore topics relating to the
human experience. This includes human behaviour, cultural relations, and how the
evolution of humanity has influenced society's structure.

2. Archaeology

 is the study of humanity through material remains of past life and behaviour. Similar to
anthropology, archaeology explores past life and cultures, although this relies much
more on the evidence from material remains.

3. Economics

 Economics looks at the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.
When studying economics at postgraduate level you can choose to take a close view or a
broad one, but in general, economics involves looking at how the economic systems of
the world work.

4. Geography

 Though many of us may remember geography as the subject at school that involved
maps, it goes beyond that – analysing population, the land itself, the relationship
between the two and often linking to the earth sciences (such as geology).

5. History

 It is a broad social science subject that involves studying particular past time periods.

6. Law

 Studying law will give you the opportunity to look at a variety of legal systems, and to
focus on a particular area – contract law, international law or criminal law, to name but a
few. Doing further study in law is especially useful if intending to go into it as a career,
although it is possible to study it solely for academic reasons.

7. Linguistics

 Linguistics is the study of language – looking at how human language is formed,

processed and used in different contexts. Rather than learning to speak a particular
language, this social science subject is more about how language itself works. There are
a broad range of study areas in linguistics, typical areas of study include syntactic
 analysis, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, phonology, and the evolution of
language.

8. Politics

 It affects every part of life, so it's no wonder it makes such a fascinating area of study.
Often broken up into Political Philosophy, Comparative Politics and International
Relations, a postgraduate course in politics lets you study both historical and current
events.

9. Psychology

 Both theoretical and experimental, psychology makes use of studying both social
behavior and neurobiological processes. With such a broad area of study – the human
mind – you'll specialize in particular areas.

10. Sociology

 Sociology is the study of society, both on an individual and structural level. Covering
topics such as class, religion and social mobility, there's a broad range to choose to
specialise in. Some sociologists work solely for theoretical purposes, whilst others intend
to use their findings in policies or welfare.

21ST CENTURY
LITERATURE
FROM THE
 PHILIPPINES AND
THE WORLD

As an overview, this subject aims to engage students in appreciation and critical study of 21st
Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, encompassing their various dimensions,
genres, elements, structure, contexts, and traditions.

It deals with current themes and issues and it also reflects a technological culture, it also breaks
traditional writing rules; hence, themes and issues we are going through now are freely written,
expressed, and conveyed through technology.

World literature started out to be an ideal or ambition. There are many factors for a literary
piece to be qualified as World Literature, let alone to be called “literature”, per se. World
literature is used to refer to the sum total of the world’s national literatures, but usually it denotes
the circulation of works into the wider world beyond their country of origin. To be considered
world literature, it has to speak to people of more than one nationality, hence it transcends
borders. Often used in the past primarily for masterpieces of Western European literature, world
literature today is increasingly seen in global context because in the present time, countries are
experiencing similar situations and somehow, they are all linked together. Literature went
through profound changes in the 20th and 21st centuries, partly in that of technology,
communication and warfare. Today in the 21st century, because of technology and freedom of
expression, as well as our growing need for information, we continue to accelerate world
literature as more and more people contribute to it.

There is more freedom then until now. Experimentation in writing from the early century
continued, and as writers had more access to ideas from other cultures, they had more with which
to experiment. And now, when ideas are shared in an instant, writers have a nearly unbounded
ideas and topics from which to choose and the freedom to question any assumption.

The early literary genres that were developed are still being studied and read until today such as
poetry, drama, fiction, essay, and epic. From these genres, as we live in the internet age and the
continuous blooming of technology happens, literary genres continue to develop and grow, and
they are not limited to the above mentioned. In addition, 21st century literature is in progress and
thriving now along with the genres to be able to accommodate the present resources and lifestyle
we have, especially for the students who now have a different learning process and resources.

In the modern vernacular, 21st century literature is associated with its academic context,
pertaining to the enduring works of fiction, philosophy, history, etc. that have been studied for
generations and molded the foundations of our thought. The 21st century reader grew up using
technology as a primary learning tool and this made them skilled in navigating and interpreting
digital formats and media messages. They have literacy skills which consists of technological
abilities such as the use of the keyboard, internet navigation, ability to communicate and interpret
coded language and decipher graphics. For this reason, genres such as IM and blog format books,
digi-fiction, doodle, creative non-fiction, manga, and graphic novels, among others are emerging.

PHILIPPINE
POLITICS
 AND
GOVERNANCE

This subject introduces the students to the basic and vital elements of politics and governance
from a historical- institutional perspective. In particular, it attempts to explain how the important
features of our country’s political structures/ institutions, possesses, and relationships develop
across time. In the process, the course helps the learners gain a better appreciation of their rights
and responsibilities as individuals and as a member of the larger socio-political community to
strengthen their civic competence.

Keypoints to remember:

 Politics comprises all the activities of co-operation, negotiation and conflict within and
between societies, whereby people go about organizing the use, production or
distribution of human, natural and other resources in the course of the production and
reproduction of their biological and social life.
 Politics is the way that people living in groups make decisions. Politics is about making
agreements between people so that they can live together in groups such as tribes, cities,
or countries. In large groups, such as countries, some people may spend a lot of their
time making such agreements. These people are called politicians. Politicians,
 and sometimes other people, may get together to form a government. The study of
politics in universities is called political science.

It is true that politics decides many things, but with those decisions, the consequences are felt as
a ripple down the line for many generations, not just the one where the law was
introduced. For instance, when it was decided that every Filipino should be able to carry a gun,
that law is still in effect and it affects many people’s lives.

Additionally, when it was decided in certain Muslim countries that women should not be able to
drive without their guardian that law was in place for many, many years. Laws to change but it
takes the involvement of individuals and the knowledge of the population regarding politics and
how it can affect us and people around us. The important of politics is enormous and it will only
continue to grow as politics slowly gets itself involved in all aspects of our lives especially on
the international scene.

Politics in the Philippines are governed by a three-branch system of government. The country is
a democracy, with a president who is directly elected by the people and serves as both the head
of state and the head of government. The president serves as the leader of the executive branch
and is a powerful political figure. A president may only hold office for one six-year term. The
bicameral Congress, which consists of the smaller Senate, which is elected at-large across the
country, and the larger House of Legislators, which is mostly made up of members chosen from
specific geographic districts, is the body that carries out legislative duties. The judiciary is
overseen by the Supreme Court of the Philippines, which has extensive review jurisdiction over
judgments issued by other governmental and administrative institutions.

The legal system, which covers both civil and criminal law, has been impacted by the prior rule
of both Spain and the United States. Spanish control was mostly supported by local
intermediaries, which resulted in an elite-dominated system. The United States took sovereignty
of the whole archipelago following the Spanish–American war, suppressing a rebellion that
occurred at the end of Spanish administration, Control by the United States resulted in
democracy and institutions that were fashioned after the American political system. Martial law's
implementation hampered this. National politics were ruled by a two-party system when the
country attained independence in 1946 and changes brought about by the restoration of
democracy are what led to the multi-party system that exists today. There have been various
levels of left-wing insurgencies since independence, as well as a continuous Islamic Insurgency

Elections are held every three years, although the president, vice-president, and Senators are
elected for six-year terms. Results are determined through plurality voting, including plurality-at-
large for elections (such as for the Senate) with multiple winners. A mixed-member proportional
representation system is used to elect a minority of the House of Representatives. Local
government units have some revenue-generating powers, under a code intended to decentralize
power away from the national government. Administrative structures at local levels are designed
to foster civil society participation.

Politics is dominated by a powerful elite, with dynastic politics common at both the local and
national levels. Political parties are weak, with elections instead dominated by individual and
familial personalities. Political positions provide extensive opportunities for patronage, and
clientelism and electoral fraud are common. Corruption is considered widespread, while state
institutions are relatively weak. Politics has been heavily influenced at times by the Catholic
Church, the Philippine military, and the United States. Despite pessimism about the potential for
political change, democracy maintains strong public support, and voter turnout is high.

Laws and rules are implemented to keep things in order and to avoid conflict among people in
various places. But in the case of Philippine politics, instead of being the solution to these
matters, it has become the problem which causes the chaos among our government officials and
causes the disorder of things in our country. Philippine politics has become one of the main
reasons for the downfall of our country. “Philippine Politics”

There is a subject taught at school that not many students find appealing mainly because it is
long and boring; “Philippine History”. But our teachers and professors keep reminding us that
we need to study and understand our past in order to learn from it and not make the same
mistakes our past leaders made. We need to acquire knowledge about how and how not to make
decisions that may or may not affect the current situation of our country, may it be good or bad.
In order for us to be good leaders in our future in case some of us choose to become someone
with position in our government

But judging by our present situation, it does not seem to be helping nor is it resulting in a good
outcome. If we compare the economy of our country to our past economy, we may notice that
our financial management is getting worse and worse. Therefore, we, students find this subject
very beneficial because it allowed us to widen our understanding about Philippine politics and
it’s history.
 CREATIVE
WRITING

As the name suggests, creative writing is a form of writing that goes beyond the traditional
realms of normal, professional, academic or technical forms of writing. It is an expressive form
of literature; one which demands you to use your own creativity, imagination and story to portray
a particular message, emotion, or plot. It defies the traditional bounds of other forms of writing
and is completely subjective to our own preferences and experiences. Instead, it encompasses a
number of different genres and styles across a whole range of fields of both fictional and non-
fiction writing; storytelling, playwriting, poetry, prose, journalistic, and more.

Though the definition can be quite vague, creative writing can, for the most part, be considered
as any type of writing that is original and expressive of oneself. Typically, it can be identified by
an emphasis on narrative craft, focusing on elements such as character development, narrative
and plot, infusing its structure with imagination, invention and story. In this sense, creative
writing can technically be considered any writing of contemporary, original composition - it's
bound by no standard conventions and uses a whole range of elements in its craft.

In an academic setting, creative writing is typically divided into fiction, poetry, or scriptwriting
classes, with a focus on writing in an original style, not defined by pre-existing structures and
genres.

There are lots of different types of creative writing, which can be categorised as fiction or
non-fiction. Some of the most popular being:

 Biographies
 Fiction: novels, novellas, short stories, etc.
 Speeches
 Poetry and spoken word
 Playwriting/scriptwriting
 Personal essays

Creative writing doesn’t fit one set genre and therefore there will never be an umbrella definition
to describe the ‘perfect’ piece. Just think about a Gothic short story and then compare it to the
features of a great Romantic poem - the two are so very different - it wouldn’t be unfair to judge
them together.

However, with that being said, there are a few general principles that you can follow to make
your creative writing as strong as it can be - by making it as authentic and true to you as possible:

1. Know your audience

 Great stories begin with a target audience in mind - because it’s exactly what you
need to know in order to really tailor your writing and connect with them.
Therefore, any creative writer should begin their writing by plotting out exactly
who they want to read their work. Once you have this in mind, your writing will
naturally begin to take direction and flow in a way that seems appropriate to your
audience.

2. Write what you know

 Quite often, the best stories are those which we can connect to and relate in one or
another way to our own lives. Or, they’re stories which seem so authentic that you
could imagine it to be about the writer’s own life. Now, this doesn’t mean that
you quite literally have to write about your life, but drawing on knowledge you
 have about different elements of our lives to give your story some authenticity
and more believability.
3. Creativity is key
 Creativity is one of the most important elements of creative writing. It’s what sets
you apart from other pieces of writing in your genre. Of course, this doesn't
demand that you write a tale about a totally fantastical and mythical world with
unique creatures - but simply use your creativity to think a little outside the box
and put a unique twist on things; using literary devices like metaphors,
alliteration, and varied sentence structure to make your work unique and
interesting.
4. Push your imagination
 One of the great things about creative writing is that there is no definition or rules
on ‘how’ to write. It’s a much more subjective genre, and one which relies heavily
on your own interpretations. Therefore, you should push your imagination to the
limits to see what the end result could be. Some of the most interesting pieces of
literature are thought-provoking or make us question the writing or world around
us - where could your story take us?
5. Plot a loose story arc
 Despite the loose bounds of creative writing, it is still advisable to plot a loose
story arc for any piece of literature you create. Story arcs are critical at giving
your writing direction and purpose, helping you to write the whole piece at a good
pace, without writing any superfluous content or ‘waffle.’ Follow your story arc,
and your writing will have a strong structure, pace and direction - keeping your
readers more engaged.

To make their writing stand out, writers often employ several creative writing techniques
and literary devices, including:

 Character development
-The process of creating a well-rounded, realistic character with depth, personality, and
clear goals or motivations.
 Plot development
-The story of your piece of writing - how it develops, unfolds, and moves along in time.
 Point of view
-The perspective from which a narrative is told. It indicates who is telling the story and
how the information is conveyed to the reader. Quite often writers will play with the
point of view of the central character or protagonist to trick the reader and twist their
perspective.

 Dialogue
 - Refers to the speech and conversations characters use to speak to one another. Dialogue
and the language choices a character makes can be pivotal in helping define their
personality.
 Literary devices
-Such as metaphors, similes and alliteration to make creative writing more imaginative
and descriptive. These are used in a myriad of ways by writers to make their writing more
vivid, interesting and engaging.

In the academic setting, creative writing is typically separated into fiction and poetry classes,
with a focus on writing in an original style, as opposed to imitating pre-existing genres such as
crime or horror.

If you’re interested in getting those creative juices flowing and improving your writing
craft, read some of our tips below on how to start creative writing:

1. Read as much as you can - For creative writers, inspiration comes from a whole range
of sources, but most commonly, from other writers. There’s some excellent examples of
creative writing throughout history that all writers should be inspired by. Read a variety
of genres by different authors to get a real feel for what type of writing you may want to
do.
2. Start journaling - Starting a journal can really help to unleash your inner creativity.
Getting into the habit of writing each day about literally anything that’s preoccupied you
that day will help you practice the art of writing. The more regular you journal, the more
you’ll build your confidence.
3. Attend a Creative Writing summer course - If you’re just starting out as a creative
writer and looking to collaborate, share ideas with others and workshop your writing,
then joining a creative writing summer school could be a great option. Our creative
writing summer courses are designed to help you extend your creative writing toolkit;
you’ll analyze some of the industry’s greatest writers, as well as workshop some of your
own writing with your peers.
4. Practice using literary devices - Literary devices, such as metaphors, similes and rhyme
can really help you write more vividly and create really descriptive, imaginative scenes.
Practice using them regularly and you’ll soon watch your own creative writing start to
flourish. Need some ideas to help you get practising? Look around your house and pick a
random object. Then, practice using 5 literary devices to describe that same object - see
where your creativity can take you!
5. Write, write, write! - When it comes to how to start creative writing, one of the biggest
pieces of advice we can offer is to pick up your pen or laptop, and start writing. Whether
you have a single conversation starter for a character, or a complete narrative arc, you
will only begin your creative writing journey when you physically do it. Even if you have
no idea on what to write - look for writing prompt inspiration from all around you.