Abstract
A creative act is usually defined as one that has a valuable or interesting product and that is in some way original or surprising (Hayes, 1981). However, whether we characterize a particular act as “creative” clearly depends on the context or circumstances in which it takes place. For example, we evaluate the creativity of a child’s drawing using different criteria from those we would apply to a painting by Monet; a creative act may be enriching to one individual or it may have earth-shaking consequences. Although creativity in writing is popularly associated with literary genres, other genres, such as expository writing, also offer opportunities for creative products. For example, a research report, a proposal, or a magazine article could be judged creative if it presents information in a new and valuable way to meet the needs and constraints of its audience and purpose—that is, if the text presents an innovative solution to a significant rhetorical problem.
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Carey, L.J., Flower, L. (1989). Foundations for Creativity in the Writing Process. In: Glover, J.A., Ronning, R.R., Reynolds, C.R. (eds) Handbook of Creativity. Perspectives on Individual Differences. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-5356-1_17
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