Creative Writing Mini Workshop

I was attending mini workshop invited by Klub Buku Tasik collaborated with Komunitas Wisata Kuliner Tasik at Par Coffe, Plaza Asia. Oom Iwok as the speaker gave us so many knowledge about how to be a creative writer as the theme of our gathering is about creative writing. 

Frankly, I was so excited to be all ears and pay attention on what Oom Iwok shared. So far I had many things about journalistic writing indeed, as I am (still) working as journalist on Radar Tasikmalaya daily newspaper. But I got new lesson about creative writing that it's about expressing thoughts, feelings, and emotions rather than to simply convey information. 

There are many advantages of having creative writing skill. Putting what we see, what we feel, and what we think in our head onto paper and making it something enjoyable for the readers is a therapy. Sometimes, we may also feel it's hard to say what's on our mind. Nah, writing would be a solution to express them all. 

The most delightful of having creative writing skill is when we're able to earn money. Just like what Oom Iwok did. He send his writing to some newspapers or magazines such as book review and short story. If the writing was published, the cash flows! :D

So how to get started? 

- Oom Iwok recommended to do some short exercises to stretch our writing muscles. If we are short of ideas, let's go read certain books first. Force ourselves to start writing. Everything we wanna write. Free. Try to get into the habit of writing everyday, even it's just for ten minutes.

- If we are stuck for ideas, carry a notebook or tablet everywhere and write down our feeling or observations. We will get some great lines of dialogue by keeping our ears open everywhere.

-Let's start our writing project which is purely for fun. We can write a poem or a short story. Have a happy writing, people! :)