Working with Creative Writing Students.pptVIP

* This presentation will cover some of the most common pitfalls that beginning poets and fiction writers face and will present various tactics for discussing these creative obstacles with creative writing tutees. We’ll conclude with some general advice to give both beginning poets and fiction writers. * Creative writing programs at colleges and universities have been steadily expanding over the last few years. As more students become interested in writing poetry and fiction, these students will start to take advantage of the writing center to get feedback on their work. While graduate students in M.F.A. programs have a community of other experiences writers with whom they work on a frequent basis, beginning creative writers have mainly their teacher and their workshop of other beginning writers with whom to consult. As tutors, most of us are used to working with students on a wide variety of academic and professional writing. However, few of us have had the opportunity to work on a piece of poetry or fiction with a student in the context of the writing center. First, let’s briefly cover the nuts and bolts of an average introductory writing workshop. This course may vary some depending on your school’s program, but the basic goals are generally the same everywhere. Students will have the chance to experiment in both genres. While some students may already think of themselves as “poets” or “fiction writers,” others will enjoy writing in both genres or may not have had much experience writing in either yet. One of the challenges faced by the workshop teacher is getting students to read works less like literary critics (focusing on theme, social relevance, etc.) and more like fellow writers (focusing on narration, construction, image, line, etc.) Those students who may already be English majors may find this transition difficult. * Creative writing workshops attract many different kinds of students, not all of whom will be English majors. They also att