Writing Prompts and Exercises (in Class)

This is a hands-on class were students will be asked to write. I try to influence their writing as little as possible during this half hour. The students will be given an idea or a quote or a sentence to start their writing and then are encouraged to write by themselves as much as possible. They are encouraged to share their writing with me and their peers. I try to give positive feedback and sometimes a gentle nudge in a new direction. But students are not being taught a lesson in this class. 

The main goal is to keep students writing and thinking about their stories and their characters. It is also a way to explore some creative outlets that students might not have considered on their own. The more the student understands his/her character, the better they can share that info. with the reader. Students may not ever put their character's trash into the actual story, but knowing that their character likes to go to the movies (ticket stubs) or has a tendency to get bloody noses are details that will help connect the author to the character and eventually, the reader to the character. 

I have a Master's Degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Spalding University. I love talking about all forms of writing! Writing prompts and critique-style discussion classes are something I have participated in many times over the years, and I am excited that some of my students have shown an interest in having a more hands-on, active class like this. My hope is to foster a safe space for creativity and also to connect students who enjoy reading and writing with other, like-minded students. Some of my best friends live far away from me, but we have bonded over reading each other's work. It is very brave to share your work and a great way to build authentic relationships with other people who you know you can trust. 

There is no assigned homework. Students are welcome to take the classroom prompts and continue to write about them throughout the week. They are welcome to share any parts of their stories in the classroom as well. My hope is that students will use the classroom throughout the week to read each other's work and comment in support of one another's stories and creativity. 

Hopefully students will be open to sharing and possibly receiving constructive feedback from their peers. It is always wonderful to see a student take what has been said in class and apply that to the writing process. Over time, students' writing should become longer, stronger, clearer, and more focused. They should be able to write more descriptions, more scenes, and have a better understanding of their characters and stories.  

30 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 0 - 1 hours per week outside of class.