Creative Writing

Heightened awareness/ways of seeing—Learning to cultivate effective writing is learning to become more adept at seeing from diverse perspectives. 

Develop, honor and celebrate students’ voices—Both verbally and in writing, through sharing and critiquing work in various capacities.

Meeting deadlines/working independently—Through various assignments/projects (as well as contest entries/extracurricular activities/etc.), students will work independently to meet deadlines.

Development of diverse writing styles/forms—Using the four major forms of creative writing (Fiction, Poetry, Scriptwriting and Creative Nonfiction) students will develop their craft in order to deepen both their own writing and appreciation of the various writing forms.  

Inspiration/Reverence—Students will develop a repertoire of reading alongside writing, as well as look at a variety of examples from classic and contemporary writers in order to discuss talent in craft and model examples of excellent writing.

Artistic Exploration & Collaboration—Students will engage in writing that responds to their own areas of interest, collaborate with both their creative writing peers and artists in varying disciplines; students will explore how writing may be used to enact change and impact others positively.

The DSA CW Department encourages all students to explore a wide range of creative written expression. We believe that writers should develop their individual voices in an environment free from artistic censorship. We also believe students must feel safe and supported when sharing their work. Because we are a school, it’s imperative that publically shared writing does not unfairly represent or discriminate against a particular group, including but not limited to: race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. Additionally, students should use discretion regarding potentially offensive or vulgar language. Students must give fair warning to classmates regarding language and content prior to sharing a potentially provocative piece.

When sharing beyond the classroom in a public venue, the DSA Creative Writing Department seeks to find balance between upholding the authenticity and integrity of student work while also maintaining standards of professionalism and audience consideration. Therefore, student work will be carefully reviewed prior to public performances in order to determine suitability. For performances open to all ages, students must adhere to a stricter framework regarding content and language, whereas shows advertised with mature content will allow for more flexibility. For such shows where mature content is allowed, such a warning will be provided to our community.