Creative Writing

Inspiration & Exploration

Every great writer started as a great reader. Begin by reading widely and with intention. Pick two or three short stories in genres you're curious about — look for free anthologies at the SLC Public Library or browse Project Gutenberg for classic stories online at no cost. As you read, ask yourself: how does this story begin? When do you feel hooked? What do you notice about how the author describes characters or places? Start a writer's journal — a notebook just for observations, overheard conversations, story ideas, and lines you love. Utah has a rich literary community: check out events from the Utah Humanities Book Festival or the King's English Bookshop in SLC for free author readings. You're ready for the next step when you've read at least three short stories and filled two journal pages with observations or story seeds.

Tools & Techniques

Learn the core tools every fiction writer uses. Watch YouTube videos on "story structure basics" — the most common is the three-act structure: setup, confrontation, resolution. Learn the difference between plot (what happens) and story (why it matters). Study the five elements of fiction: character, setting, conflict, plot, and theme. Practice writing "micro fiction" — complete stories in exactly 100 words. This forces you to use every word intentionally. Read about the "show don't tell" technique and try rewriting a bland sentence ("She was nervous") into a vivid, showing version. The free Wattpad community has writing guides and reader feedback built in. You're ready for the next step when you can write a 100-word micro story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

First Creations

Write your first complete short story this week — aim for 500 to 1,000 words. Pick one character, one problem, and one location. Don't outline extensively — just start writing and see what happens. Set a timer for 30 minutes and write without stopping or editing. Then read it back and write a second draft where you fix the parts that confuse you. The goal is a story someone else can follow from start to finish. Share it with one trusted reader and ask two questions: where did you feel confused? Where did you want to know more? SLC has several writing groups — check the Utah State Poetry Society or Meetup.com for local creative writing groups. You're ready for the next step when you've finished one complete story and gotten at least one reader's reaction.

Style Development

Develop your writing voice — the unique personality that shows up in every sentence you write. Read two authors with very different styles and notice what makes each feel distinct. Is it sentence length? Word choices? How much description they use? Now write two versions of the same scene in two different voices — one spare and fast, one lush and slow. Experiment with point of view: try first person ("I walked in"), third limited ("She walked in"), and even second person ("You walk in") to see how each changes the feeling. Post a short piece on Wattpad or a writing community on Reddit (r/worldbuilding or r/shortstories) for reader reactions. You're ready for the next step when you can write a scene and describe in two sentences what makes your voice distinct from other writers you've read.

Refine Your Craft

Strengthen your writing through intentional revision practice. Good writing is rewriting. Take your best story from the earlier steps and revise it three times, each pass focusing on something different: first pass for plot clarity, second for character voice and dialogue, third for sentence rhythm and word choice. Read your dialogue out loud — if it sounds like no one would actually say it, rewrite it. Study "cutting the fluff" — search YouTube for "how to edit your own writing." Look for SLC writing workshops through the Utah Arts and Museums division or local libraries, which often host free writing workshops. You're ready for the next step when you've revised the same story three times and can point to specific improvements in each draft.

Portfolio Piece

Write and polish a complete short story of 1,500 to 2,500 words that represents your best work. Choose a story that matters to you — something rooted in a real emotion, a genuine question, or a world you've built carefully. Outline it before you draft, then write a full first draft in one or two sittings. Revise at least twice. Read it aloud in full — your ears catch what your eyes miss. When it's ready, submit it somewhere real: Wattpad, a literary magazine that accepts youth submissions like "Teen Ink," or the SLC Public Library's annual writing contest. Write a one-paragraph synopsis you could use for submission. You're ready for the next step when you have a polished, complete story you've submitted or published in at least one public place.