Some of the common things students in my creative writing classes will do, depending on the factors above:

keep a writing notebook where they grow their ideas
study mentor texts, while learning to read like a writer, and discover what techniques and styles they enjoy the most
do fun creative writing activities that will help them tap into their creativity and let go of any anxiety or hang ups they have about writing
learn about and use a variety of techniques, devices, and story structures
employ their favorite techniques in their own writing
learn how stories work and use the structure of a story to develop their own plot
study themes in literature and incorporate themes into their own story
develop their own authentic voice
craft realistic characters
weave narration and dialogue together
bring the world alive for their readers through vivid visuals
receive and incorporate feedback into their work
peer review each other's work and give feedback
revise
revise some more
edit
publish a final story or chapter of a larger story

Teaching creative writing is one of my true passions! I love helping students tap into their inner creative worlds, while giving them the tools they need in order to share their ideas in writing. Whether teaching the class for enrichment or as an academic class (with or without grades), my goal is for each student to develop their own personal writing toolbox and use their newfound skills and knowledge to craft a final short story or chapter of a larger story. We will focus both on the small things, such as how to punctuate dialogue and format a paragraph, and large things, such as theme and genre.

Each class will vary based on the type of class, the length of time it runs, the number of times we meet, and the skill levels of the students.

Creative Writing Classes