Creative Writing   -Poetry & Fiction
9th - 12th grade

Students are instructed to engage in regular writing exercises designed to draw out and hone the creative process while generating raw material for creative projects assigned throughout the year, including: metered and rhyming poems, free verse poems, spoken word, stream of consciousness writing, short story, personal reflection writing, and feedback letters. Students are guided through each stage of writing fiction, from drafting all the way to revision and publishing with a heavy emphasis on how to effectively use the elements of character, plot, setting, and point of view. Presentations of the students’ creations will be followed by lessons in the important life skill of giving respectful, helpful, and constructive feedback, as well as how to receive comments with grace and humility in their pursuit of growth as writers.

Course Modules for Poetry and Fiction Writing (CRW)
 

1. Cultivating the Creative Process

2. Poetry

3. Spoken Word

4. Fiction

5. Strategies for Revision

6. Publishing Your Work

 
Cultivating the Creative Process:
-       Discovering what inspires you and exploring your personal writing style
-       Collecting ideas in a journal creates a bank of material to work with
-       Stream-of-consciousness writing helps to overcome writer’s block and generates raw material for future writing projects
-       Confronting self-doubt and overcoming the fear of sharing your writing, especially when you should be proud of it
-       Making a habit of using sensory details in writing to enhance the three-dimensional and immersive experience for readers
 
In this module, students will address common obstacles in getting started with the creative process. With a combination of lectures and exercises, the students will be given tools to overcome the challenges that stand in their way of getting started. Once good writing habits are established, students will brainstorm plans to help maintain a healthy and productive writing schedule.
 
Poetry:
-       Studying the art of structured poetry
-       Understanding rhyme scheme and meter
-       Exploring different poetic perspectives
-       Studying the art of free-verse and modern poetry
 
In this module, students will explore multiple perspectives on the different types of poetry throughout history. Students will learn poetic terminology as well as the form and structure of rhyming and metered poems. They will produce their own poetry following this model. Students will then study contemporary poetry and analyze the differences. With a combination of lectures and exercises, the students will learn to write their own free-verse style poems with close attention to sensory detail and emotional depth of words.
 
Spoken Word:
-       Literary devices commonly used in Spoken Word
-        Form and presentation analysis
-       Cultivating the right stage presence

 

In this module, students will learn new terminology about the literary devices commonly used in spoken word. The students will analyze different presentations of spoken word and extrapolate what is effective about the speaker’s word choice, stage presence, and craft decisions. Students will apply what they have discovered and write a spoken word poem of their own. Through a group workshop, students will receive constructive feedback on presenting their poem with the best stage presence for their creations.
 

Fiction:
-       Writing effective beginnings, middles, and ends of a story
-       Designing interesting characters
-       Crafting realistic and engaging settings
-       Finding the best point of view for a great story
-       Writing riveting plots
-       Understanding accessory topics (dialogue, pacing, tension, clarity, etc)
 
In this module, students will learn what elements make stories interesting, effective, and successful. Through a combination of lectures, exercises, and story analysis, students will apply craft advice to their own ideas and write a complete short story.
 
Revision: 
-       Understanding that the first draft is never the best one
-       Learning to give constructive and respectful feedback
-       Receiving critique with grace
-       Finding revision strategies that work best for the individual
 
In this module, students will submit their short stories for a group workshop. They will learn proper critique etiquette and learn how to give feedback that is both rectful and helpful. They will be coached through how to process and respond appropriately to the emotional experience of receiving criticism. Students will then be given a list of different potential strategies for revising their work to improve its flaws.
 

Publishing: 
-       Understanding traditional publishing vs. self publishing
-       Exploring the pros and cons to each route of publishing
-       Learning how to submit your work
-       Helpful resources for publishing your work and exploring writing careers
 

In this module, the students will learn how the publishing world works. Through a combination of lectures and personal research, students will get a grasp on what it takes to publish their writing, whether it be in literary magazines, journals, personal blogs, writing contests, or other alternative ventures. They will learn the advantages and disadvantages to traditional publishing and self publishing. Once they have gained the knowledge needed, the students will create a plan on where to submit their creations they have written in the school year for publishing.