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How to Teach Collaborative Creative Writing to Your Classroom

Creative writing is not a reserved activity for students, with Google Analytics evidence showing 92% of American businesses use it to drive revenue, 75% of American businesses use it to attract new customers, and 37% of businesses use it to retain existing customers.

In the digital age, we’re always connected to our devices. Whether it’s online shopping, social media, email, or Google searches – we’re constantly connected to a digital landscape.

With so much information readily available online, students can use the Internet to quickly find ideas and support for their creative writing projects. While this may be fine in an educational setting where students are expected to learn to rely more on the Internet and digital media for research, it may not be the case when a student enters a creative writing competition and is judged on the quality of their content rather than how quickly they could find information to support it.

In this digital age, with companies like Google promoting original content and independent creators cashing in on the booming video market, it’s more important than ever to consider how you can encourage your students to develop their creative writing skills and become innovative, independent thinkers.

What better way to do this than by teaching them to collaborate?

Inclusive creativity

It’s well documented that teamwork promotes creative thinking and problem solving. In her book, Whistle While You Work: How to get the most out of your employees, Amy Edmonds Lisle notes that “groups of different people often generate creative ideas that no one person could have come up with on their own”.

Indeed, working in a collaborative environment where ideas are readily accessible and everyone’s opinions are welcome can help to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Not only that, but students who work in a team are more likely to value the opinions of others, become better communicators, and ultimately produce better work.

Collaborative writing environments can take many different forms, from traditional group work where students are expected to read a chapter of a book and then respond with an essay of their own, to a completely digital approach where students work independently yet diligently to produce a polished final piece.

Some schools and teachers may see group work as a means to an end – getting students to interact with their peers and work collaboratively to produce a meaningful academic outcome. For others, it may be an opportunity to embrace creative freedom and trust in their students’ ability to work through problems independently while being supported by a cohort of friends or classmates.

Encouraging your students’ creativity and fostering their independent thinking may seem like a difficult task. But, what if we told you there was a way to easily and effectively teach your students these essential skills?

We present to you – the humble brag. Yes, humble brag. We mean you, professor emeritus Gerald Arpels. Remember when you taught us about the power of the written word and how it can be both a blessing and a curse? Well, it turns out you taught us well. Because here we are, decades later, still citing one of your books. Whoops! We hope you don’t take offence. It’s a proud moment for us, by any means necessary.

Although you probably taught us about grammar and vocabulary, words can never truly be learned solely through textbooks. To reap the full benefits of language, you need to expose your students to different writing styles and allow them to learn from mistakes. That’s why we’re here today – to give you an opportunity to brag about how much your students appreciate your skill and how much they’ve learned from your diligent tutelage. So, here’s to you, Professor Arpels – may your books never go out of fashion.

How to Start A Creative Writing Club

If you’re an educator who’s been looking for ways to engage your students more, we recommend exploring creative writing clubs. What are creative writing clubs you ask? They are informal groups of writers who get together to share their creative work and support each other’s endeavors. Students who join creative writing clubs often report that their writing skills have improved due to the practice, and instructors say the same can be true for their lessons too.

With the growth of online freelance writing, it’s never been easier for independent writers to find work, and the demand for original content is increasing every year. With so many students discovering a passion for writing and the opportunity to develop their skills in a competitive environment, it’s the perfect time to start a creative writing club.

But how can you ensure your students produce high-quality work and effectively learn to collaborate while participating in a creative writing club?

Firstly, you must ensure the quality of your students’ work and set high standards – no shortcuts here! You should also prepare a proper structure for your club with a facilitator to help guide discussions and keep everyone on track. For example, you can organize regular meetings every week to ensure consistency while encouraging community, or hold themed group sessions once a month to highlight a particular genre or style.

Encouraging your students’ creativity and fostering their independent thinking may seem like a difficult task. But, with a little preparation and structure, anything is possible.