Creative Writing: What Is It and Why Does It Matter

by Lauryn Brown

The creative writing program at East high school offers many benefits to the students who take it, from interacting with other writers to growing your skills outside of the creative fields. It is an opportunity for students to write, read, and grow as a student in a safe and comfortable environment. A multitude of different genres, such as horror, dystopian, poetry, and journalism, are explored in the class. 

“I think it makes you a strong person because other people read what you write and that’s not always fun.” Said Mrs. Maguire, the newest teacher in the creative writing course. The prospect of sharing one’s own writing with a class, some of whom are strangers, can be daunting. However, as she said, it allows you to grow into a confident person. This confidence goes beyond just writing, it carries into every part of one’s life. Whether someone leaves the classroom planning on never writing again or is on their way to be the next New York Times bestseller, they have learned the skills necessary for success. 

In an interview, previous creative writing student, Hailey Bauer, remarked on what the class meant to her. She shared, “It was a place where I could go and be with other writers who all had different skills and we could all work together to see how I could improve with their help and how they could improve with my help. It was really great to just be with a bunch of people who were interested in what I was interested in.” This course gives students a space to connect with others who share the same passion for writing. Using workshops and peer reviews, the students in the class were able to provide and receive constructive criticism for their works. As said above, the collaboration within the classroom gives students the opportunity for advice from their fellow peers, rather than a teacher. The shared interest creates a welcoming environment where they really feel like they can express themselves. 

In Creative Writing I, students learn the basics of character building, dialogue, suspense, setting a scene, and much more. Regardless of one’s experience or interest in writing, everyone gains something from the course. In Creative Writing II, students begin to learn how to approach a story on their own and are then given the opportunity to follow their specific passion with the Author’s Project. This is an extensive, in-depth project that allows a writer to explore and develop any type of story, or stories, that they wish. It helps aspiring writers find their voice and take charge of their own passion. One does not need to be experienced to take the course, it is welcoming to any and all who have an interest in the storytelling process. It is meant to serve as an outlet for creativity and be a time dedicated to one’s own passion. Previous students have often shared about how comfortable they felt in the classroom environment. Many see it as one of the best courses offered at East due to how it can be applied in many different aspects of life and school. As Hailey Bauer said, “Having a class where most of the period was dedicated to me writing whatever I wanted to write was really great.”

If you have creative works to share, you can submit them to be published in the school’s literary magazine, The Light From The East, by sending them to thelightfromtheeast@gmail.com