Writing is an interesting subject: how do you get better at writing? You write. That seems apparent. The problem comes in that it takes time to write…a lot of time. At less than six instructional hours, our school day isn’t embedded with a lot of spare time just to write.
We have students who are interested in becoming better writers; a Creative Writing class provides them time to write, and hence, have the opportunity to improve their abilities to express themselves on paper. This is a very valid reason to provide the class and I’m more than happy to do so.
When I reflect on my own personal reasons for beginning this journey as a “writing teacher” I find that I have the same reasons as my students for wanting to take the class: I want to be a better writer. I admire those who can write well, those who have not only created a world but have been able to put that world on paper in a manner that engages readers to the point that they crave the written word.
J.K. Rowling. J.R.R. Tolkien. Suzanne Collins. C.S. Lewis.
Kate DiCamillo. Mary Pope Osborne. Jerry Spinelli. Beverly Cleary.
Wordsworth. Dickinson. Poe. Twain. Austen. Shakespeare.
Am I vain enough to think that someday a teacher will put my name on her “Fabulous Authors List” as she fumbles through a blog post? Hardly. But I can be a better writer than what I am, and teaching this class can help me achieve this goal. Will it help me write exceptionally well? No. But will I write better than I do now? Probably.
And will I have time to write? Yes. Yes, I will.
