Teaching Creative Writing

Recently I've gotten a tutoring job, teaching a young student creative writing once a week. It's a real treat for me, because normally I'm tutoring SAT Verbal or some such formulaic stuff. This time, I get to act as a mentor for a fledgling writer, and see her get excited about new creative writing techniques the same way I did when I was her age.

We're in the early stages so far, but I've got a ton of ideas already of what exercises to do. As you can imagine, some of the topics and exercises I've written about on Creative Writing Corner will be making an appearance in the sessions. It's great to have an opportunity to see someone doing the exercises I've outlined, and it reminds me to encourage my readers here to submit their work. It will appear here on the site before hundreds of readers' eyes! With an attribution to you and your website of course.

Back to the matter at hand: this is one the first times I've been in an official tutoring position for creative writing, and it's a good taste of the career I hope to eventually have. In order to pay the bills, writers usually have to do something else. We can all be J.K. Rowling, so many writers teach. I would like to teach myself and I'm enjoying this little taste of it very much. There's something very satisfying about seeing a person's writing improve because of the suggestions and ideas I've provided. And I can see the student enjoying her own work as well. That's what it's all about!

Comments

[Deborah Johnson]

Cynthia,

As someone who hopes to transition into full time teaching, I look forward to reading your posts about your experiences.

I am really enjoying your blog. Thanks for sharing!

[Equallysay]

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