Creative writing is a fun and creative way to express yourself. But how does it impact students? Some people stress about writing a good, interesting piece, while others can write pages in 10 minutes.

“Many students have huge imaginations and ideas, but they don’t know what know how to use it. Creative Writing allows students to place their imagination and ideas on paper,” said Casey Kula, a leader of the Writing Club, which meets in room C126 on Wednesdays.

“I think it does benefit students. Creative writing can also be a challenge at times. These challenges will keep students engaged in learning about writing and improve their writing skills as well as problem solving,” said Michelle Le Roy, a member of the Writing Club.

Gracie Poehlman, a senior and another member of the Writing Club, said, “It expands minds and fosters collaboration. Forcing students to think outside the box now on a simple narrative will lead to more innovative solutions to the challenges that students face in college and at their jobs.”

Expressive writing has also been linked to improved mood, well-being, and reduced stress levels for those who do it regularly. Writing creatively is also seen as therapeutic; even blogs can help. Laziness with words creates difficulty in describing feelings, sharing experiences, and communicating with others, but creative writing helps improve one’s word choice and enhances clarity, according to Help Scout.

Michelle Le Roy said, “During English things like research papers are pushed a lot. But I, as a student, have written research papers many times and quite understand the process and what it takes to do so. This technical writing is fine and good. But how will students know how to creatively incorporate interesting things into their stories? Like writing a short story with complex themes woven into it. In English one analyzes works of literature, but when do students apply these studies into actual works? I think English classes should encourage creative writing more.”

How could more assignments in English classes that involve writing creatively impact students learning? If English classes involved more creative writing in their classes, it will keep the students’ interest, according to Gracie Poehlman, who added, “[Creative writing] keeps students interested and engaged as they learn specific concepts.”

Also, according to Cassie Volkin, “It can help students learn how to take criticism and view their work critically. You should take pride in your work, but it’s equally important to be open to suggestions and improvements.” Many people struggle to take suggestions to improve their work. 

If students do not have room in their schedules, they can always attend Writing Club or just submit their poems and stories to The Eclectic, the school’s literary and arts magazine, for publication.

So can creative writing impact students? The answer is yes! Besides, it’s fun to come up with a story.