Mrs. Long’s fifth-period creative writing class combines both branches of the field: poetry and fiction writing. That’s a first.
Normally, the two genres are separated into their own semester courses, but Long has learned to teach poetry and fiction writing to a split class. So far, the semester has gone off without a hitch, as Long remains focused on providing an engaging environment for students who love creative writing.
Nevertheless, Long has had to overcome challenges.
“Balancing the class through the different interests [has been a challenge],” Long said. “Just trying to make sure that poetry and fiction both get enough attention. It’s a task that the students have done well with.”
Long’s creative writing group has been open-minded in adjusting to the change.
“At first, I was worried that some students would be against having to learn both [genres], but I think that they’ve become open to learning both and enjoying the class,” Long added.
Combining both classes was a decision based on the number of students who selected the NASH creative writing courses during scheduling late last spring..
“There is a set number in order to run the course, around fifteen or twenty students that need to be met,” Long explained. “There weren’t enough students for there to be both a single class dedicated to poetry and a single class to fiction writing.”
The joining of the classes has created be a new opportunity for students to learn and grow.
“They’ve benefited from being exposed to different writing styles,” Long said. “It helps to develop writing skills for sure.”
The mixing of content, however, can be a difficult situation to balance.
“I have been going off of the literary element units, like conflict point of view, setting, and setting assignments based on those,” Long said, “practicing narrative styles, and creating conflict in poetry.”
Yet at the start of the year, some students were skeptical.
“At first, I didn’t want to learn both, but now I like having a little bit of both in this class,” senior Clayton Blough said.
A writing course that is half poetry and half fiction has turned out to be just what some students wanted.
“I actually love it,” NASH senior Johannes Brinzer said. “It saves me from taking both classes.” Johannes Brinzer comments, “As someone who loves both, it’s a really nice class to take, I’m happy it turned out this way.”
