Teaching Creative Writing: Top 10 Reasons It is Essential
Teaching creative writing is important! As a teacher, there are many times when students or parents asked me “Why are we doing this?” It makes my heart sink because it feels like they didn’t believe in their abilities. The problem gets worse when the person asking has potential as a writer. They don’t understand what creative writing teaches beyond storytelling.
How can you convince someone that creative writing is worth investing time into?
What is Creative Writing?
Creative writing is the most versatile form of expressive media. It can take any shape or form, including fiction , non-fiction, and poetry to name just three examples! Genre does not limit creative writers. Even when writing traditional essays, good writers add anecdotes to engage readers.
Creative writing also allows for learning how to incorporate other elements, such as graphics, into writing. Most other elements and text features integrate easily into stories for extra effect. In the end, creative writers are truly unique from one another. Every story told will have its own individual flavor.
Why Write?
“Why do we write? To make suffering endurable
To make evil intelligible
To make justice desirable
and . . . to make love possible”
Roger Rosenblatt
“As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.”
Ernest Hemingway
“You have to follow your own voice. You have to be yourself when you write. In effect, you have to announce, ‘This is me, this is what I stand for, this is what you get when you read me. .”
David Morrell
“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.”
Albert Camus
Top 10 Reasons why Teaching Creative Writing is Essential
TO SHARE WITH: Students, Parents, Other Teachers or Administrators
Why is Creative Writing an Important Subject to Teach?
Creative writing is more than just writing stories. It helps students improve their writing skills in general. Critical reading is also improved. But most importantly, creative writing teaches life skills that go beyond what is learned in an English classroom.
Creative writing is a process of self-discovery that takes place in many different forms. Students who participate often find themselves improving their general skills and developing new life lessons along the way, which can’t be found anywhere else but with creative processes like these!
Reason #1: Teaches Organization
Organization is a fundamental skill for all types of writing, whether it be academic, creative, or business-related. When students brainstorm and organize their thoughts before writing, the final product is usually more cohesive and concise. Teaching students to outline or map out their ideas before they start writing can help them better organize their thoughts and create a clearer piece of writing.
Teaching Tip: If your students are struggling with organization, have them try writing in bullets or chunks. This will help them focus on one idea at a time and make their writing more cohesive.
Reason #2: Strengthens Imagination and Creativity
The value of creativity cannot be understated. It’s one thing when we’re talking about art, music, and literature; but what does this mean for students’ lives outside the classroom? Creativity helps them come up with new ideas that could potentially change their personal relationships or even land them a great job!
Teaching Tip: To help your students develop their creativity, ask them to write about something they know very well in a new and different way. For example, if they are writing a personal essay about their family, have them try writing it from the perspective of one of their siblings.
Reason #3: Supports Reading Comprehension Skills.
To be a successful writer, you need to know what your readers are trying to read. You can’t just think up something and write it without understanding why or how this will impact them! So when we say “critical thinking” in school-that means more than knowing how many syllables there should be in every 100 words (although I’m sure all of us could use some practice with our grammar). It also involves slowing down so as not to miss any important details from the text that may help form an idea for one’s own personalized message.
Teaching Tip: If you want to help your students develop better reading comprehension skills, have them keep a journal while they are reading. In the journal, have them write down any questions they have about the text and then answer those questions after they finish the book.
Reason #4: Enhances Ability to Analyze and Interpret Literature.
In order to write a good essay, students need to be able to analyze and interpret literature. This is a skill that is taught in many English classes, but it can be enhanced through creative writing. When students are given the opportunity to interpret a work of literature creatively, they often approach it with a new perspective. They are able to look at the characters and plot in a different light and find new meaning in the story.
Teaching Tip: One way to help your students interpret literature creatively is to have them write an alternate ending to the story. This will require them to think about the characters and plot in a new way and come up with a creative solution to the problem.
Reason #5: Helps in Understand Story Structure.
In order to write a story, students need to understand story structure. This includes understanding the different parts of a story (introduction, body, and conclusion) and the different types of plots (rise and fall, chase, and quest). By writing their own stories, students are able to better understand how these structures work.
Teaching Tip: If you want to help your students understand the structure of a story, have them read a variety of stories and then write a summary of each one. This will help them see how the different parts of a story work together to create a cohesive whole.
Reason #6: Assists Mastery of Symbolism and Other Literary Devices
Symbolism is often used in creative writing to add depth and meaning to a story. When students are able to understand and interpret symbolism, they can better appreciate the beauty of literature. Additionally, understanding other literary devices such as metaphor and allusion can help students write more effectively.
Teaching Tip: If you want to help your students understand symbolism, have them write a poem or story that uses symbols. This will give them the opportunity to experiment with different symbols and see how they can be used to add depth to a story.
Reason #7: Supports Overall Communication Skills
Communication is an essential life skill. By teaching Teaching creative writing is a great way for students to practice and improve their communication skills. Students who can express themselves effectively will find success in all areas of life, from school, work, or relationships with friends/family members at home!
Teaching Tip: One way to help your students develop their communication skills is to have them write letters to people they know. This could be a family member, friend, or even a celebrity. This will allow them to practice expressing their thoughts and feelings in a clear and concise way.
Reason #8: Provides Opportunity for Self-Exploration and Connection to the World
Through creative writing, students have the opportunity to explore their own thoughts and feelings. They can also learn about the world around them by writing about different cultures and experiences. This can help them develop empathy and understanding for others.
Teaching Tip: If you want to help your students learn about themselves and the world around them, have them write about a time when they were faced with a challenge. This could be something that happened at school, at home, or in their community. By writing about their experiences, they will be able to gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Reason #9: Develops Problem-Solving Skills.
Good writers solve problems. When students are given a prompt, they need to come up with an interesting story idea that fits the requirements of their task as quickly and creatively possible – this requires brainstorming skills in addition to being able to think outside the box!
Teaching Tip: If you want to help your students develop their problem-solving skills, have them write a story that involves a character solving a problem. This could be anything from finding a lost pet to stopping a villain from taking over the world. By writing about a problem and its solution, they will be able to practice their problem-solving skills.
Reason #10: Teaches Patience and Perseverance.
Writing is often a slow and painstaking process. It can be frustrating, especially for students who are used to getting immediate results. However, the creative writing process can teach students the value of patience and perseverance. By sticking with it and seeing their stories through to the end, they will develop these important life skills.
Teaching Tip: If you want to help your students develop patience and perseverance, have them write a story that is difficult to write. This could be a story with a complex plot or one that is emotional and personal. By working through the challenges of writing a difficult story, they will be able to learn about the value of patience and perseverance.
You Can Do This!
Creative writing is a valuable skill, and it’s one that you can teach! And who knows? You might even enjoy it!
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Final Thought
Teaching creative writing is essential because it can help students develop important skills that will be useful in all areas of their life. It can also be a lot of fun! If you are looking for ways to improve your students’ writing, consider incorporating creative writing into your lessons.
