Best Creative Writing Teacher I Ever Had
Ms. Anita Stangl. This woman’s shoe collection alone would have inspired even the dullest of writers. It helped that she once dated a shoe salesman who brokered shoes in her size fives. Every day there was a unique pair of classy high heels on her feet and I know that I wouldn’t have missed a day of her class lest I miss one pair of stylish shoes. I only mention her because her feet and her mind were so similar: they changed daily. Her ideas were fresh and clever. She would also take the time to add insight to her students efforts in case our young minds weren’t clued into their own brilliance –and sometimes stupidity. She read into the symbolism and helped all of us notice what was not being said. She also pointed out laziness when it was blatant…and she knew a shortcut when she read one.
As a creative writing teacher with a set curriculum to follow, she would find ways to make class less boring and I for one appreciated this, especially before lunch when I was running low on energy to fuel my brain. If the clicking of her heels on the hard linoleum, as she paced up and down the desk aisles wasn’t enough to keep me awake, she would call on me to elaborate a point. (I could always be counted on in English class to talk…it’s an Irish thing). This method of calling on the unsuspecting student was a secret weapon for most teachers. She would force us to get creative with our answers when floundering for an intelligent reply to her question. Even guessing produces creativity. She certainly showed her cleverness when she would take our really lame answers and build something out of them to spare us some shame.
I doubt that I will be the best creative writing teacher you ever had, but if you begin to look at how you are writing your blog with some desire to be writing even just a wee bit differently, I’ll take that as a compliment.
Now, go do and be your creative best!
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