I teach creative writing classes to middle schoolers.
I know that if I can make them laugh, they’ll participate.
No one has ever failed.
I treat my students, and their writing, like a diamond in the rough.
There’s always something worthwhile in every attempt.
Rather than point out the flaws and demand improvement, I point out the potential and encourage the effort.
So it was an enormous surprise, when I took a side gig grading papers for another teacher, that she has an entirely different approach.
The lesson objective was to write a conclusion.
The students were provided with the opening and body of a short story, and they were to write an ending paragraph.
One student took it a step further.
He wrote pages and pages and pages to continue the story.
He enriched the original piece with a well-thought-out plot twist.
He included character development, dialogue, conflict, suspense, engagement, and, in the end, a very satisfying conclusion that referred back to the opening paragraphs.
I gave the kid an A.
He went above and beyond the assignment and wrote a very well-crafted story.
The teacher, annoyed, corrected me.
The student, she said, had failed the assignment.
He didn’t follow instructions.
Excuse me?
This is a CREATIVE writing class.
If it was a technical writing class, then yes, he needs to follow instructions.
But creativity, by its very definition, should be given allowances.
I lost the argument.
She gave the kid an F.
Well there’s an easy way to stifle creativity in a budding writer.
I won’t be grading papers for this teacher again.
Kid, don’t let this incident discourage you.
Remember, JK Rowling was rejected many, many times before she finally got Harry Potter published.
Everyone’s a critic – don’t let that discourage you.
Keep writing!
Liz Brenner
Everyone has a story to tell.
Even you.
Especially you.
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