Creative writing is a means of expressing one’s thoughts and ideas in a liberal manner, free from any restrictions or technical jurisdictions. It allows an informal interaction between the writer and the reader, leading to a seamless conveyance of information and ideas. This enables the reader to develop an easy understanding of what is written, as no rigid protocols are followed.

Nonetheless, certain guidelines need to be followed. Creative writing, as a means of Architectural Journalism, must acknowledge certain aspects of the field. The presence of an architectural expression is necessary, to begin with. There must be a clear understanding of the subject material, to make the reader grasp it well. Secondly, an architectural vocabulary needs to be developed; it adds a sense of professionalism and a technical flair to the written matter. The use of technical terms called jargons not only adds a professional signature but also conveys the meaning of the subject matter in a rather direct and crisp form. Lastly, whatever the subject matter may be, it must be understandable for a non-professional. It should be kept in mind that readership would not consist of professionals entirely; instead, non-professionals will form a major part of it.

Thus, the final product must be woven out delicately, such that: it speaks of an architectural expression, it is easily understandable to the masses and at the same time, it imparts unprecedented knowledge to the readers. Content written in resonance with these aspects shall be appreciated and admired thoroughly. Creative writing can be pursued in many forms: Essays, Articles, Blogs, website content et cetera. An essay generally deals with the standard description of a particular subject. Its title must not exceed seven or eight words. It must contain a brief introduction, a body (encompassing most of the subject matter) and a conclusion. 

A contemporary and digital approach toward Creative Writing is a Blog. A blog is simply an expression of thoughts, at a domain that is accessible globally. It facilitates the conveyance of information and ideas at a rapid rate, to a diverse audience. The most dynamic aspect of blogging is its ease of access. One can easily look anything and everything up on the internet. It is, indeed, the fastest means of exchanging information. Thus, Journalism as a means of blogging is a step into the future. It transcends all physical boundaries to make relevant information available, digitally. Hence, it is a means of catering a larger and an even more diverse audience.

The most common and highly hunted mode of Journalism is via magazines or journals. Composing an article, writing a story, illustrating a Site-Visit or publishing a Q&A write-up are all bits and pieces of it. Writing for a magazine also entails more readership, as most of the magazines have an already-established reader base. It allows a journalist to reach out to a wider audience, including professionals, which catalyzes their inner growth. 

However, a magazine is not sold solely based on its written content. Visuals and illustrations form an integral part of it. A photograph, thus, must complement the text in a subtle way. It must stay truthful to the subject matter and add more to it. Rather than dominating the page, a photograph must arouse curiosity within the reader to go through the written content.

Top Image © Pappal Suneja (Settlements at Nilgiri Mountains, India)