Creative Writing Crash Course: Introduction
- Bair Klos
- Mar 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 25
The Blank Page & Where to Start
So, you want to write? That’s amazing! Maybe you’ve always dreamed of telling stories, crafting worlds, or capturing emotions in words. But when you sit down, staring at a blank page, you feel paralyzed. You ask yourself, "Where do I even start?" Maybe you even think, "I'm not a writer. Why am I doing this?" The doubt creeps in, and suddenly, the excitement you once had starts to fade.
You’re not alone. Every writer—whether a beginner or a seasoned novelist—has faced that intimidating void. But the key to becoming a writer isn’t waiting for inspiration to strike; it’s starting anyway. The truth is, writing isn’t about being perfect. It’s about expressing yourself, exploring ideas, and allowing your creativity to evolve over time.
This Creative Writing Crash Course is designed for beginners and intermediate writers who want to build a strong foundation. Whether you’re here to explore storytelling as a hobby, improve your craft, or start a serious writing journey, this course will guide you step by step.
In this introduction, we’ll tackle the biggest roadblocks most writers face before even putting words on the page: fear, doubt, and not knowing where to begin. And most importantly, we’ll get you writing—because that’s the only way to become a writer.
Overcoming Writing Fears & Imposter Syndrome
If you’ve ever thought:
“What if my writing isn’t good enough?”
“What if I don’t have any good ideas?”
“What if I never finish a story?”
You’re not alone! Every writer, no matter how successful, has had these thoughts. The trick is to write anyway. One of my favorite writing quotes compares writing to a faucet. If you let it sit for a long while, it becomes rusty. And when you come back to run the faucet, it comes out as a trickle. Don’t let that discourage you! Keep the faucet running, even if it starts slow—before you know it, it’ll be flowing freely again. You just have to get through some rusty, dirty, muddled water first.
Writing is like any other skill—it improves with practice. The more you write, the better you get. But if you never start, you never give yourself the chance to improve. Think of it like exercising a muscle—the more you train it, the stronger it gets. The first few attempts might feel awkward or difficult, but over time, you’ll develop confidence and ease in your writing process.
The Myth of “Good” Writing
Many new writers think their first draft needs to be brilliant. It doesn’t. First drafts are supposed to be messy! Even famous authors rewrite their books multiple times.
That voice inside that insists your writing must be perfect on the first try, that’s just your inner perfectionist talking. And guess what? Your inner perfectionist is great at getting you to never start—or never finish.
You have to ignore that voice. It’ll keep you stuck in one place, either in a cycle of "I’ll do it later—I’ll write eventually, one day I will" or "This isn’t good enough, I need to keep rewriting this one section." The most important thing is to put words on the page. You can always refine them later.
Fear of Failure = Fear of Starting
If you don’t write, you can’t fail. But if you don’t write, you also can’t succeed. The only way to grow as a writer is to put words on the page—even if they’re terrible at first. Perfection is the enemy of progress.
It’s hard to overcome perfectionism, but at some point, you have to take the first step. You have to take the leap of faith and just start. Embrace the failures, embrace the road bumps. So don’t worry about being a good writer—worry later about becoming a good rewriter.
One of the best ways to defeat perfectionism is to write with the intention of writing badly. Try setting a goal to write the worst sentence possible, or deliberately make mistakes in your draft. By giving yourself permission to be messy, you take the pressure off and allow your creativity to flow naturally.
Mini Exercise: Writing Fears
Write down five fears that have stopped you from writing. Think deeply—what thoughts creep in when you hesitate to start? Are they related to perfectionism, criticism, or self-doubt?
Next to each, list one small action you can take to push past it. Make sure these actions are achievable—for example, if you fear your writing isn’t good enough, your small action could be writing for 10 minutes without judgment.
Write a short affirmation or counter-thought for each fear. For example, if you wrote, 'I’m afraid my ideas aren’t original,' your counter-thought could be, 'Every writer brings their own unique perspective—no story is truly original, but my voice makes it special.'
❌ Example: “I’m afraid my writing isn’t good enough.”
✅ Solution: “I’ll remind myself that all first drafts are bad. My job is to get words down and edit later.”
What This Course Will Cover
Writing a great story isn’t just about having a good idea—it’s about understanding what makes stories work and how to bring them to life on the page.
This course will cover:
Finding Your Creative Why – Understanding why you want to write and what kind of stories you’re drawn to.
Genres & Story Structures – Exploring different genres and the 7-8 basic story archetypes.
Conflict & Tension – Understanding internal vs. external conflict and why it’s essential in every story.
Building Compelling Characters – Creating three-dimensional protagonists, antagonists, and side characters.
Plotting & Scene Structure – Learning how to outline a story and craft engaging scenes.
Showing vs. Telling – How to balance immersive descriptions with clear storytelling.
Point of View & Narrative Voice – Finding the right POV for your story.
Editing & Revising – Turning a rough draft into a polished piece.
How to Stay Motivated & Keep Writing – Tips for beating writer’s block and developing a writing habit.
Each lesson will include practical exercises, examples, and challenges to help you apply what you learn.
Your First Challenge: Just Start Writing!
Before we dive into the first official lesson, let’s break the ice with a quick, low-pressure writing challenge.
✍️ 10-Minute Freewrite: Pick one of the following prompts and write non-stop for 10 minutes. No editing, no overthinking—just write!
Prompts:
A character stands at the edge of something—what is it, and what are they about to do?
Write about someone discovering something they were never meant to find.
Describe a place from your childhood as vividly as possible.
If you feel stuck, start with “I don’t know what to write, but…” and see where it takes you.
Bonus Tip: Check out my writing podcast! The Tired Writers Podcast has a wealth of writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing! (Not to mention it's chaotic and funny!)
Concluding Thoughts: Writing is a Journey
Writing isn’t about being perfect—it’s about exploring, growing, and creating. The best way to start is to give yourself permission to write badly and keep going.
Writing is a valuable hobby that anyone can benefit from. It is a way to explore ideas, emotions, and both real and imaginary worlds. It allows you to express yourself, untangle thoughts, and understand different perspectives. Writing can be therapeutic, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
So, take a deep breath, grab your notebook or open your document, and start writing. You’ve got this! I believe in you!
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ― Maya Angelou.
Write without fear and edit without mercy! Carpe scripturam!
—Bair✍︎
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