CREATIVE WRITING

Lesson 2: Use Imagery, Diction, Figure of Speech to Evoke Meaningful Responses from the Reader

CREATIVE WRITING?
Creative writing is a form of writing where creativity is its purpose using imagination, creativity, and innovation in
order to tell a story through strong written visuals with an emotional impact, like in poetry writing, short story writing, novel
writing, and more. Creative writing uses senses and emotions in order to create a strong visual in the reader’s mind whereas
other forms of writing typically only leave the reader with facts and information instead of emotional intrigue.

VARIATIONS ON LANGUAGE
Words have both denotative and connotative meanings. The denotative meaning of a word is that which is
found in the dictionary. It is also known as the literal meaning of a word. On the other hand, the connotative meaning of a
word is that which is assigned by the writer to a word as it is used in the context of his text. It is also known as the
figurative meaning of a word.

Variation is a characteristic of language that allows a writer to express more than one way of saying the same
thing. This could be achieved in writing through diction, imagery and sensory experience, and figures of speech.

1. DICTION is the careful selection of words to communicate a message or establish a particular voice or writing style. For
example, flowy, figurative language creates colorful prose, while a more formal vocabulary with concise and direct language
can help drive home a point. Writers choose specific words and phrases depending on the outcome they’re trying to achieve.
(Source: (MasterClass, 2020))

• Formal Diction is writing that establishes a professional tone, such as business writing or formal essays. It involves choosing
descriptive, precise words that are polite and proper. Sentences in formal diction are often longer.

• Informal Diction is a conversational or friendly writing style. It often assumes that the reader already knows what you’re
talking about and generally uses shorter words. Sentences may be incomplete or ignore some finer points in grammar and
usage.
2. IMAGERY AND SENSORY EXPERIENCE
Imagery is the creation of a picture or images in the mind of the reader by the use of words that appeal to the senses.
To create imageries, a writer makes use of his sensory experiences. He/she recalls what he perceives through his eyes, ears,
nose, tongue, hands, skin, and other sensory organs.

•Visual Imagery
The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of sight.
•Auditory Imagery
The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of hearing.
•Olfactory Imagery
The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of smell.
•Gustatory Imagery
The imagery produced by the use of words that appeal to the sense of taste.
•Tactile Imagery
The imagery produced using words that appeal to the sense of touch.

3. FIGURES OF SPEECH
Figures of speech are connotative presentations of words to produce a literary effect. These are classified
into figures of comparison, contrast, representation or reference, order, omission, addition, substitution,
repetition, and order.

 Figures of Comparison

Simile- A figurative comparison with the use of as or like Ex. “Life is like a game.”

Metaphor- A figurative comparison without the use of as or like Ex. “Life is a game.”

 Figures of Contrast

Oxymoron--Placing side by side of two contrasting words Ex. Blinding darkness

Paradox--A seemingly self- contradictory statement which can be proven to be true

Ex. The more you hate, the more you love.

Irony--A statement of one idea, the opposite of which is meant

Ex. You’re so lovely today; you look like a Christmas tree.

 Figures of Representation/Reference

Metonymy--A figurative representation of one thing for another Ex. The subjects pay taxes to
the Crown (for King or Queen).

Synecdoche--A figurative representation of a part for a whole or of a whole for a part

Ex. I feed seven mouths (for persons).

Personification--A figurative attribution of personal or human qualities to things that are not human

Ex.The flowers are dancing under the smiling sun.

Apostrophe---A direct address to an inanimate object, a dead person (as if living), an absent person, or
an idea Ex. Car, please get me to work today!

 Figures of Order

Climax----Arrangement of words or ideas in an ascending order of importance

Ex. I came. I saw. I conquered.

Anticlimax----Arrangement of words or ideas in a descending order of importance

Ex. In elementary, she graduated valedictorian; in high school, salutatorian; and in college,
cum laude.

 Figures of Sound

Alliteration----Repetition of the initial letter or sound in a succession of words

Ex. Pedro Parerno picked a pack of pad paper.

Onomatopoeia---Use of a word to indicate a sound

Ex. In the field, birds chirp, cows moo, dogs bark, cat’s meow, snakes hiss.

Assonance--- Repetition of the vowel sound (not necessarily the initial sound) in a succession of words
Ex. Haste makes waste.

Consonance---Repetition of the consonant sound (not necessarily the initial sound) in a succession of
words Ex. Ninety-nine nannies renewed their contracts.

 Other Figures

Hyperbole----An exaggeration or overstatement for literary effect

Ex. Theorphaned child cried an ocean of tears.