Types of Writing and Their Functions
Writing can be broadly classified into two categories: creative and non-creative.
Non-Creative Writing:
- Non-creative writing deals with ideas and aims to inform.
- It adds to our information and widens our knowledge.
- Examples include books on history, religion, and science.
- The writer must be analytical, presenting arguments clearly and logically.
- The goal is to make the content easy to comprehend.
Creative Writing:
- Creative writing is considered a spiritual activity.
- Its purpose is to reveal rather than inform.
- Creative writers meditate on concrete things or abstract thoughts like love or divinity.
- They express their emotions and unique imagination in their work.
- Creative writing can enlighten, uplift, and transport readers through novels or short stories.
- The individual vision of the writer is evident in their creative works.
Overlap Between Creative and Non-Creative Writing:
- While writings can be divided into creative and non-creative, there are overlaps.
- A highly imaginative writer can creatively present informational content, making it both informative and uplifting.
- For example, Maeterlinck’s “The Life of the Bee” is written with a poetic touch.
- Conversely, an ordinary writer may make a novel or short story duller than any non-creative work.
In essence, both types of writing have unique purposes and methods, but the boundaries between them can sometimes blur, leading to works that simultaneously inform and inspire.4o