How to use creative writing in professional fields

It might surprise you to discover that my first introduction into the world of writing was through Dungeons and Dragons, a roleplay game focused on fantasy, worldbuilding and excitement.

It might surprise you further then, that here I am, writing a piece with seemingly none of those elements (Except excitement, I hope). Creative writing is used in my work everyday, and it’s one of the reasons why I love what I do.

When you read a piece that sounds stereotypically “professional”, there are actually constant creative decisions to be made. Who you’re writing for, what language to use, what world you want to paint.

It may seem unnatural and robotic at first, but when you write with creativity, it all comes together as if you’ve been a professional your whole life.

If you’ve been writing stories for a while, you’ve probably developed some sort of consistent style to call your own. A writer’s style is their secret weapon to slay any foe- professional or otherwise.

Putting content in your own voice and sharpening that blade is a timeless way of expressing what you want in a meaningful way, write each sentence with purpose, slash away at the goals of your piece, and rise victorious despite what society expects of you.

A common pain point switching between writing styles can be vocabulary. Professional writing ‘sounds’ smart, but what information is it really conveying? Can you explain it in other ways you’re more familiar with to tell the same story?

In many cases, creative uses of simpler English can be just as effective, if not more in storytelling. In fact, whole industries exist around the idea of conveying information as simply as possible, so don’t let a lack of vocabulary hold you back.

Something you probably know as a reader is how different some stories can feel; scary, tense, uplifting, it’s all tone. Tone is just as important no matter who you’re writing for, be it your lecturer, or for your exams.

Creating the right mood can impact how your message is explained, just like how good sleep can affect your mood. So, think about what you’re writing, who you’re writing it for, and tell a story that gets your reader to sweat about economic statistics as if it was a dragon in Mordor.

If the tone of your piece is the icing on the cake, supported by layers of the spongy chocolate that is your content, that last proofread can be considered the sprinkles you throw on top, a perfect opportunity to find ways not only to fix any mistakes, but to add that little bit of flavour to make your reader go “wow, this is a really good cake.”

Editing is one of the most important parts of writing, but it can also be the most fun! If we’re honest with ourselves for a moment, professional writing can be a little boring and difficult, right? But if you get that foundation down, then you can mix the layers up, add bits, even take some away if it doesn’t taste good. I like to think of it as if I’m playing with my food, and as we all know, baking is all about creativity.

So, have some fun with it. University is one of the best chances to find yourself, your style, and play around with people who understand. It’s also incredibly forgiving- failure is scary, but we don’t grow without failing once or twice (or 20, or 30).

“If you only do what you can, you’ll never be more than you are now.” — Master Shifu