Creative writing is often seen as one of the easier aspects of school, especially in younger years. However, there is great benefit to investing in the development of creative writing skills before later high school years.
One of the most significant benefits of creative writing is its ability to foster imagination and creativity. This helps students build a broader perspective on life, fostering problem-solving abilities. These are particularly useful when tackling questions in other subjects, such as economics or biology, which the student may not have the exact answer to. They can use their ability to think outside the box and use their wider scope of societal knowledge to formulate a good answer.
In addition to creativity, writing also plays a vital role in improving language skills. By practicing grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary usage, students improve their overall writing proficiency. These skills are invaluable for essays and reports, which are fundamental across most subjects the student will take. Strong skills in creative writing also help students gain confidence in their ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
Having strong creative writing skills that are built from a young age is also crucial when it comes time for a student to take their HSC. In the compulsory English Standard or Advanced subjects, questions that require a creative response can, and often are, asked. Having a foundational confidence in this area allows a student to excel. Furthermore, if a student has worked on creative writing skills for several years, it will deflate the pressure to quickly expand these skills. Unfortunately, for many students it is often the case that their creative writing skills are neglected until close to the HSC, and this leads to large amounts of stress, pressure, and less time to improve these skills.
As tutors, we have the responsibility to treat the development of creative writing skills as just as important as the development of other skills in primary and early high school education, in order to build the foundational confidence that underpins many other positive outcomes.
Ceara Kearnes
