The Problem with Teaching Creative Writing

"Only a true author will realize the sheer terror of the slight pause that follows the words: 'So I read your book . . .' " -Neil D'Silva

Disclaimer: based on my own personal experience, duh. 

So, I'm taking my very first creative writing class - shocker, huh? Well, this was the first opportunity I've had to take it in high school. 

As someone who's been writing essentially my whole life, I've been through the writing process multiple times. I spend most of my waking time either reading, writing, researching writing, or thinking about writing. 

Granted, this is only a high school level creative writing class, and the teacher is teaching from the ground up. However, as we're closing out our first unit - on poetry, unfortunately - I've realized something about the way many people view and teach writing. 

The writing process begins with brainstorming, then writing, then time away, then editing, and then finalizing and submitting your work. However, in this creative writing class, the ratio of brainstorming and writing to editing is about 9:1. And that's bad when writing and editing should be a ratio of 1:1, or even 2:3.

 Regardless of your skill level, the teacher should be stressing that no piece of writing is ever finished in its first draft. It is absolutely essential, and I'm under the impression that in this class, and especially in the world of newer writers, not enough emphasis is put on editing - editing your novel, a scene, a poem, anything. 

Editing is awful, but it's essential. And so is feedback. Feedback is grouped under the umbrella term of editing, and throughout the poetry unit, out of 8 poems, two people looked at two poems, one each. That's absolutely ridiculous!

Maybe I'm expecting too much out of pretty much a 101 class with a crunch for time, but I demand excellence, so that's what I will get out of myself. 

In other news, I hate poetry and I can't wait to move on. Except next we're doing memoirs and I hate writing about myself outside of my diary. 

Yes, I keep a diary. It's a good writing habit. 

~The WordShaker 

Smells Like Teen Spirit | Olivia J

"Writing is really a way of thinking - not just feeling but thinking about things that are desperate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic, or just sweet," -Toni Morisson

Black with a touch of yellow, like the mustard on a grilled hot dog. Unless you're one of those heathens who drowns all their food in condiments. Four little letters that mean everything to my future. 

New books and old books have a different smell, and I can't tell you which one I like better. Minimum wage can add up fast. 

White like sunscreen, black like the lane lines of a pool. White like a screen, black like text. Gray like a hodgepodge of all of the above. 

Oily pigment ground into my skin, making the whorls blue and purple and green. Audio books and sweet tea can't cure even the worst artist's block. 

Smells like being stupid for the memory, for the photo. 
Smells like ambition and the cool of a summer night. 
Smells like relapses and feelings that don't make sense.
Smells like sugar and dog days and evanescence. 

Smells like teen spirit. 

~The WordShaker

BLOOM 2017 | Olivia J

"A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world," -Susan Sontag

Every year, Bloom surpasses itself. This year, I was unfortunately bogged down with other things in my life - namely my job - but, regardless . . . IT'S BLOOM. 

follow me on instagram @olivia.j.the.wordshaker

   

I felt that I had a much stronger display of art and writing. I also purchased my own business cards! This only reinforces my unflinching desire to go to SCAD and make writing and art my career. 

Shoutout to the amazing Creative Writing Club for sticking through it all, even when it's rough. You are all my children and I'm so proud of all of you!

My art was featured as well. The piece that was selected was "Fresh Air", a 16x20 collage. 

Fresh Air, collage. Copyright 2017

Overall, Bloom was great, but it went by way too fast. The preparation, the event, everything. I wish we could go back and do it all again, because it's my favorite kind of stress.

Also, please take a business card from me because I'm desperate.  

~The WordShaker