As we know, creative writing and technical writing are very different. One explores a more artistic way of thinking and the other a more analytical. As students, we are expected to write in both styles in order to benefit from each. But what if we had a choice?
I am a firm believer that the difference between creative and technical writing is the same as the difference between art and science. It is a matter of right brain vs. left brain; with creative writing activating the right side of the brain and technical writing activating the left. Recently, in our class we are making the transition from our Snapshot Essay to a Featured Article; two very different styles of writing. While I agree enjoyment can be found in both styles of writing, in my opinion, I can never seem to find enjoyment in technical writing. Even on a subject that I am interested in or have a strong opinion about, I find it very difficult to put together factual information. Even now I am having a bit of trouble forming words and sentences to create an informative blog. To me, short stories and poems are much more enjoyable to write.
Creative writing is all in the mind; it has no guidelines and no rules. You have the ability to stretch your mind as far as it will go and create something that no one has created before. With technical writing, you are restricted. You are writing of a basis of rules that requires external researching and analyzing and targeting specific audiences. Think of it like this: you can find so many articles and books discussing the same topic. Sure, they all may take a different angle, but in the end, it’s still the same topic. With creative writing you can write something that no one has ever heard or dreamed of before. When you are writing about a topic you are limited to what the topic has to offer. Creative writing is limitless.
Again, it boils down to whether you are right brained or left brained; whether you find it easier to gather information or create your own information. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy reading non-fiction books and newspaper articles. I am focusing specifically on the writing aspect.
My question for the class is, do you consider yourself to be more right brained or left brained? If you had the choice between a creative writing assignment and a technical writing assignment, which one would you chose? Why?
Sources:
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/creative_writing.asp
I would definitely rather write a creative piece than an academic piece. I find creative writing to be better for forming my writing skills because I’m not confined to rules, limitations and norms. When I have the ability to experiment with my writing, I can find out what works to use later, and what not to use. When you’re writing an academic piece, then you don’t really have the room for improvement because there’s really only one way to write things and more often than not, what you’ve written has broken some type of rule or code that marks your paper as inadequate. However, when you can freestyle your writing, nothing can really be wrong because everything follows the rules that you yourself construct.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose between artistic writing and technical writing, I'd choose creative writing. Ever since I've been writing papers for school, the ones that are creative writing are the ones that have received the best score. That's because I am very artistic! Art has always been in my blood, ever since I was a kid, and for some reason, writing with my own voice comes out easier than writing objectively. I enjoyed writing the snapshots for project #1 because they were about me, and I could use "I". I wasn't restricted. However, I know that I will enjoy this next project way less than the first, because doing research and putting information together simply doesn't come naturally.
ReplyDeleteI think I am right-brained in everything I do. I feel instead of think and react instead of plan. It shows in my writing, too. I find it easier to disclose personal information about myself in a paper and I have a lot of common knowledge and I present it better than something I would have found in a book or online resource. I enjoy research papers and I think I do those well, too, but I am a creative writer at heart.
ReplyDeleteIf i had to choose i would much rather write a creative piece. I do not consider myself to be that creative but i would take writing my own story over researching a random topic any day. I agree that with creative writing there is a lot more freedom. I also find it a lot easier to write a creative piece because you are not as limited as you are in a research based paper. With technical writing you are limited to whatever topic you are told to write about or a specific format. With creative writing you can get crazy and write whatever you are feeling that day or however you are feeling that day.
ReplyDeleteI believe most people would rather write a creative piece based off the fact that it is done in your own opinion and format. I feel I too would choose to write a creative paper over a technical as I have trouble collecting information in a paper and making it interesting when writing a technical paper
ReplyDeleteI do not think that I could pin myself as a left-brained or right-brained person. I grew up loving creative writing, but also grew up being assigned technical writing assignments. Creating your own story and adding intricate, fiction details can be fun and interesting for the reader (and author). However, technical pieces require research, and while this seems daunting to many, it can add a good amount of interesting facts, too. I feel that any paper can be made into a creative paper, but it is all about personal preference.
ReplyDeleteCreative pieces just allow the writer to write about anything. Sometimes, academic essays are also good because you focus on one thing and you learn about the subject. Even if it's an academic paper you can still add your voice to it.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely more right brained. I would choose a creative writing assignment over a technical writing assignment for sure! Writing a creative paper just comes easier to me, I can write basically anything. Also, I believe a creative paper shows someones personality and makes the paper enjoyable to read. Like you mentioned in your blog, you are limited with what you can do with your paper. So why would I choose a technical paper when I'm limited with what I can do and write?
ReplyDeleteI think I am more left-brained oriented. I over-analyze a lot. As in choosing which assignment I would rather work on, I'd say neither. I don't like writing, but if I had to choose I would say technical writing, however I really enjoyed the Snapshot Essay. Technical writing allows me to focus on a specific topic. I am not the most creative in coming up with topics, but when given a topic, I can write about it to the best of my ability and I can analyze it as much as I want.
ReplyDeleteAs a creative writing major, It saddens me that I cannot disagree with you more. First off, It does not boil down to whether you're left brained or right brained. Though there is quite a bit of truth with the way each side processes information, writing and language comes from the left side of the brain. So to say you enjoy creative writing more because you are right brained is like saying your athletic because your tall. There are many more factors that go into creative writing such as organization, grammer, logical processing which derive from the LEFT side of the brain. Your brain works together; it's a unique tool that cannot be sectioned off into bits an pieces. Just like everything else in the world, whether you know it or not, everything is connected.
ReplyDeleteI would much rather be a right brained person. Writing creatively is much more appealing to a reader than an essay about the microchip. Exploring a world that you created is wonderful and sharing it with others lets them see what kind of person you are. Writing a technical piece is fully made up of facts. Not many people enjoy reading facts about boring things versus a story with creative writing.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself to be more right brained, but I organize things in a left brained fashion. It is much easier to write a creative assignment as the story just seems to flow out of your mind. If you let your brain write down a story that you are telling yourself in your head then it will all flow into a creative story. This just seems to be much more natural as it is how we talk to one another. While a technical assignment is much more structured. You have to go out and research and find all of the information. Then you must organize it in such a way that you think it makes sense. And finally you get to write it all out. This is a much longer process that doesn't come naturally to us because we hardly ever communicate like that.
ReplyDeleteI think I am more right brained, although I don't have too much trouble writing technical papers because my school made us write research papers more than we had to write creative pieces. I would probably choose a creative writing assignment because I find it easier to write about whatever I want, than writing about a common topic that I have to research and write about in a way no one else has so I won't be plagiarizing. Creative assignments are also easier and more enjoyable because I write about my experiences and things I know and enjoy so the words come easier and I think my writing turns out better.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to categorize my preferred writing style as either left or right brained, I do not think I could classify myself into just one. I do enjoy writing creative pieces because it does not have any limitations and I can write pretty much on anything. However, on our first paper I had a bit of trouble because even though we were writing about ourselves, it was supposed to center around one theme and there is only so much I can say without repeating myself. I am not that creative when coming up with topics to write about, so when one is given to me, I find it easier. I tend to do better in technical writing because I know how to put certain facts together and turn some into my own. I am also able to find out more about the topic I am interested in which is always a plus.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a creative writer in almost every paper that I work on. I enjoy coming up with my own interpretations on scenarios and then write a completely made-up story on whatever I choose as a topic. Writing from my mind makes it more easy for me to come up with ideas that seem to be interesting with my age group, or any other group of people I fit in with. Creative writing also helps my mind work better when I can write down what I am thinking on paper and then expand on the parts that seem to grab my attention.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like doing one much more than the other. I do like when I write creative papers beacause I can use my imagintaion and write about pretty much anything. However when I am given to much freedom I don't know how to start. It is alawys difficult for me to start writting a paper. That's why I like having instructions on what i should do.
ReplyDeleteI easily see my self as being a more left-brained person. I do better in math and preforming tasks that follow steps. I can be creative, but only with drawing or working with clay. When It comes to writing, I prefer technical. I like to research and and learn about what my topics is. Once you have your facts together, you just organize them and put some of your thoughts throughout, and you have your paper. Creative writing requires more of a storytelling skill that I do not have. I think it has more to do with my shy personality and reluctance to write about myself.
ReplyDeleteI would choose creative definitely. It lets you take the topic and run with it! You can design it however you would like and you can style it that way too. It is much easier to write about something entertaining rather than something that is receptive and "boring".
ReplyDeletei would say that i am more left brained. i do not have many artistic abilities; therefore i would chose to write a technical paper over a more creative piece. this is how i like to solve my problems, by the book and if my paper is like that it makes grading easier as long as i meet all the requirements.
ReplyDeleteI think I’m a pretty good mix of left and right brained. I danced for seven years, I love to paint, go to a musical performance, or read a good story but when it comes to writing papers I would write a technical paper over a creative paper any day. It is so much easier for me to research a topic and write about information that someone else has already published and share my opinion on other’s ideas rather than come up with my own. I used to love writing creative papers in high school, it was easy for me then and I was good at it. Well, at least the grades my teachers gave me told me I was a decent creative writer. Then I got to college where there’s always someone better than you and my grades said that I should probably stick to writing technical papers.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely choose a creative writing approach over analytical. I don't necessarily think one is easier or more useful than the other, however I enjoy being given the opportunity to think outside of the box and not have to follow strict guidelines while writing.
ReplyDeleteI find myself having an easier time writing analysis papers than creative ones. My brain has a harder time making up stories out of thin air. And I often experience long periods of frustrating writer's block. As a matter of fact, I am experiencing it right now while trying to complete my final draft for the Snapshot essay. With non-creative papers you have a more clear set of guidelines to what you are writing and this makes it easier for me to focus.
ReplyDeleteI think that I would be considered right brained. Creative papers come naturally to me. I enjoy talking about art and music. Creative papers also allow you the liberty of writing in a personal way. Anything that is a personal narrative lets me be myself and say what I want to say in a way that I want to say it. Technical papers stress me out. The boring nature of them shuts my creative side down, and it takes me forever to get my point across with the formating.
ReplyDeleteI definitely consider myself to be more left brained. Sadly, I am terrible at composing music or playing instruments, and I'm not Picasso when it comes to drawing. I'm really good at anything that is technical and that has guidelines. Math and technology are two subjects I love simply because they're just based on facts and formulas. I would choose a technical assignment any day because not only would I have an easier time doing it, but the teacher would not be able to take points off for "lack of creativity".
ReplyDeleteI cannot choose because I think I am both :) but I wish my left brain was more dominant because I feel like I lack the skills to think analytically all the time. So maybe I am more right brained because I love using my creativity to keep things interest ion and I also catch myself day dreaming a lot. But when it comes to left brain, I love having everything in order and neat and perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhen being technical, I am considered more left brained than right. When being opinionated, I am more right brained, which is why I will always prefer a Creative Writing style paper.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you one hundred percent. I'd much rather write short stories and poems than writing a factual report. One, it's a lot more fun because you get to be the creator of characters, themes, and lessons in the stories. Two, its a lot easier than typing up a factual report because you don't really have to do any research to write a poem. I am much more right brained because I love to be creative. The creative writing assignment would most likely be more lenient on rules and guidelines, and i love to be free, so...creative writing assignment it is for me.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself to be a little more left brained than right but I do enjoy both. I can appreciate creativeness but I am not very good at producing creative things. If I could choose which assignment I would probably pick the technical writing assignment because that, for me, is easier. A creative assignment is so much harder for me. I do have creative ideas but sometimes it takes me a while to come up with one. Technical writing assignments are much easier. You say what needs to be said and you’re done.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a left brain person, but for an assignment I would prefer a creative one. With creative assignments I feel as if there really is no pressure to come up with this professional paper. Creative writing assignments usually don't take very long to complete once you get rolling on an idea.
ReplyDelete