Another club is coming to Saint Edward High School, the Creative Writing Club. To learn more about this, I sat down with Mr. Turtle to learn more about the new club.
Q: What is the Creative Writing Club?
A: The Creative Writing Club will be an open, judgment-free space for Edsmen to learn anything and everything they want to about creative writing, and eventually, to share their own writing with each other. However, because it’s not a class, there’s no pressure to share, or even to follow the prompt — anything goes!
The topics the club discusses and its goals will be completely defined by its members, so no matter whether you want to learn about Sci-Fi, Poetry, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Memoir, or anything else in between, everyone can develop their writing in whatever directions they like.
Q: Why should someone join the club?
A: Creative writing (aside from just being fun) has a ton of potential benefits for everyone, not just those interested in writing!
Firstly, it helps us to become more reflective and make sense of the daily chaos of life; creative writing is often a simple process of observing the things around us, writing them down, and rearranging them so that they mean something — through creative writing, we literally get to make our own meaning in life.
Secondly, sharing our own creative writing is a great way to build confidence, both as speakers and as writers. While it can be scary to share at first, the club’s emphasis on being judgment-free means that anyone can read anything they’d like without fear of negativity. The creative writing club is about learning and developing ourselves as writers, so imperfection and awkwardness are accepted and encouraged!
Q: (If known) When will the club meet?
A: The club will most likely meet during the Community Period, but beyond this, there’s no set meeting time yet, though I hope to have more information to share by winter break. In the meantime, if the readers have a preference for any day over another, you can specify in the final question on the interest survey.
Q: What made you want to create this club?
A: I believe in the power of creative writing not only to change lives but also to save them. The chance to participate in a community of writers, each invested in one another’s growth and development as much as they are their own, is a rare and powerful thing for everyone involved. Without the support of my high school’s poetry club, I never would have become the writer, educator, or person I am today, and I’d love the chance for Edsmen to enjoy that same support.
Q: Any ending comments you would like to say?
A: Take the interest survey! QR codes are out in the halls and in English classrooms on bright purple fliers!
You can find Mr. Turtle in the Student Success Center. Thank you to Mr. Turtle for the interview.
