During the class,\u00a0the instructor guides students as they write their own short stories. Over ![\"short](\"http:\/\/groups.etown.edu\/english\/files\/2018\/10\/short_story-1-300x300.png\")
the semester, they revise their work with fellow classmates. The class\u00a0 allows students to explore their creative side in a unique and interesting way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this course helps students understand what it takes to be a writer. It’s a tough business, very competitive yet somewhat subjective,\u201d said Writing Fellow and professor Richard Fellinger. \u201cI put extra emphasis on the writing process–brainstorming, drafting, revising–and I stress that good writers raise the stakes for their characters and write about themes that are deeper than the everyday.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a novelist himself, he is experienced in the process.<\/p>\n
It Helps Students as Writers<\/strong><\/p>\n The course focuses on trying to improve a student\u2019s writing ability. They build up narratives over the semester and continuously enhance them.<\/p>\n \u201cThis class definitely improved my writing skills,\u201d senior political science and legal studies major Matthew Pysher said. \u201cIn the class, we often did peer editing so it was very helpful to get other perspectives on my writing style.\u201d<\/p>\n Within this process of improving a student\u2019s writing, it also helps power their creativity. The course is featured as a Creative Expression fulfillment within the school\u2019s \u201cCore\u201d curriculum<\/a>. It also fulfills the Guided Writing and Research (GWR) component of the Core program.\u00a0 Because of this dual identity in the Core, and the accessible topic, this course always fills quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell my students that the best professionals in any field understand people–our fears and flaws, hopes and dreams, needs and anxieties, relationships and family histories,\u201d Fellinger said. \u201cI think the Creative Expression core is all about getting students to think harder about forms of art that speak to what it means to be human.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, a Worthwhile Class<\/strong><\/p>\n It takes effort in the class to achieve the goal of both becoming a better writer and creative person. But as shown by a variety of students, not only is it possible, it also ends up being a meaningful and enjoyable experience.<\/p>\n \u201cSo far my favorite thing to work on has been the creation of our own short story. The topic, theme, setting, characters and more, are all up to us as the writer,\u201d sophomore pre-med biology major Katie Snyder said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to have a class where you\u2019re allowed to just write freely and creatively like this.\u201d<\/p>\n