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How to Teach Creative Writing to High School Students

When it comes to creative writing, many teachers fall into one of two categories: either they think it’s a waste of time and can’t see the point, or they believe it’s the most important form of English and try their best to inculcate it into their students’ curriculum.

Teaching creative writing to high school students can be challenging; it’s not like teaching other subjects where you can follow a step-by-step plan. You’re going to have to wing it and figure things out as you go. However, after a while and with the right approach, you can successfully integrate this subject into your curriculum.

The Benefits Of Creative Writing

Let’s face it, not all students are cut out to be good writers. Some are just better at playing games on their phones or creating digital art. In other cases, students simply lack the raw talent. But for the ones that can actually write well, there are a plethora of benefits to be derived from teaching them creative writing. Here’s a short list:

1. Able To Develop Flexibility.

One of the things that separate successful writers from the rest is their ability to bend and shape ideas to suit the needs of the story. A good writer will often choose to ignore the facts of reality in favor of creating a made-up narrative that feels more real to the audience. Creative writing allows students to develop this flexibility, as they are only limited by their imagination.

2. Develop An Ear For Dialect.

A lot of the greatest writers in history – whether it be William Shakespeare, Wolfgang Shakespeare, or even J.K. Rowling – were absolute masters of creating dialects. Dialects are the unique ways in which different individuals, communities, or countries speak. When you’re writing in a way that’s different from how you normally speak, it can really spark interest in the characters and make the setting come to life on the page.

Shakespeare, for example, was a veritable master of creating regional English accents. Even the most seasoned writers can improve upon their accent skills by regularly writing in this way.

3. Develop A Sense Of Humor.

Humor is one of the most important tool you can use to enliven a story. A good storyteller will find ways to make you laugh – whether it be through absurdist humor or through a more traditional form of comedy – to make the story more accessible to the reader. Humor can help you engage your student population and make them care more about the characters and the events that transpire.

To truly master the art of humor, you need to start from the very beginning. One of the best tips I can give you is to find the humor in everyday things. You never know when something funny is going to happen, and it can usually be found in the most unexpected places. For example, did you know that you can get sick from too much laughter? So make sure you keep a healthy sense of humor in your classroom.

4. More Engaging As An Art Form.

If you truly believe that literature and the arts should be made available to everyone, then why not make it easier for students to access these works and to actually enjoy them? Books can be challenging to read and even more so to understand, but art should be accessible to all. This is why a lot of teachers incorporate creative writing lessons into their curriculum, so that their students can develop an appreciation for good writing techniques – like the use of humor and dialect – and for the written word.

The English language has a rich history and great writers of every generation. It is important that you continue this legacy and help your students find their voices and develop their creative potential. Teaching creative writing is a perfect opportunity for you to inspire your students and help them develop the skills they need to tell their stories – whether it’s a novel or nonfiction piece – and to engage with the English language in a whole new way.