As I have shared before, I have not always had a great relationship with writing, especially as a child. If I am being honest, it is something I still struggle with. I have recently started to view this as an advantage instead of a disadvantage. why you ask? I know how it feels to be the students that feels really judged within their writing, has nothing to write about or just genuinely gets nervous writing specifically with creative writing. I can connect with those students and help them start to feel differently about writing in the same way that it changed for me. Here are a few things I have learned within the last few years that have helped me think more positively about writing.
One way it has changed is my making my journals something personal. As seen in the picture from an old journal, I have glued things that mean a lot to me. When I look at this notebook cover I am taken back to that time in my life or the meaning behind those objects. When a student decorates their notebook it allows them feel like it is theirs and gives an opportunity to be creative. Aside from getting students excited about having their own writing notebook, it also gives them ideas to write about. In my own life, I look a the pieces on my notebook and I am flooded with memories. I think about Taylor Swift and all the memories at her concerts with my friends. I think about all the sweet letters my parents sent to me while I was really homesick at school. I think about the weekends my friends came to visit me and the notes they left in my room. I think about how some things never change and how those inside jokes are from elementary school and somehow still make me laugh. Students will also get a spark from their notebooks and have lots of ideas to write about.
Another HUGE way that has changed writing in my life is seeing it through texts. The book "Textbook" by Amy Krouse Rosenthal has really changed the way I view writing. As a young student and even throughout college writing has always looked a certain way. It has always been long essays that need a certain format in order to be graded. Even in creative writing, there was a lot of rules and length within each paragraph. When I first read "Textbook" I was blown away by her style of writing. She made lists, she made charts, bar graphs, short writings about her day, etc. It is important for students to see that their creative writing can take any form they want. Also, within "Textbook" Amy writes about things that seem simple but are important to her. As soon as I was able to break that mold in my head, my notebook became a lot easier and dare I even say- enjoyable. It is also important that students know they can have privacy within their writing if that is what they wish. Creative writing must be a safe space for students to enjoy it.
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