Creative Writing Club at UHS

Ernest Hemmingway’s famous six word memoir “for sale, baby shoes, never worn,” was one of many six word memoirs that made the members of Creative Writing Club (CWC) stop and think.
Although each member was moved by the amount of emotion and the simplicity inherent in the sentence, each member of CWC was affected in their own very different way by it.
However, the theme was pretty clear and easily agreed upon: Hemingway’s memoir speaks about the loss of a child.
CWC is a place for the students of Urbana High School to share their work and grow as writers. Each meeting is always exciting; you can never expect the same things to always happen.
CWC begins with students mingling and catching up, before everyone begins placing desks in a circle. This encourages involvement to the club and respect to those speaking. After a few short announcements, club sponsor Ms. Rachel Moyer begins the meeting with an introduction to a different style of writing, this week: 6 word memoirs/flash fiction.
Then, the members then take a few minutes to write something of their own and then share it. After each person finishes, the room goes around and gives creative and constructive criticism to the author.
By this time, most students will start leaving if they please, although most seemed to hover towards the front of the room and speak with Ms. Moyer; and sharing more of themselves with the members, who, to some, have become like a second family.
It is a friendly and caring environment.
“Everyone is heard,” says Ms. Moyer. “[The members] are so receptive and encouraging.”
Freshman Vanessa Cano stated “everyone is so deep, and everything is so well written that it is easy to compare your own experiences to the speaker.”
“It feels homey and safe, and easy to join at any time during the year.” says, club Vise President Sophomore Elizabeth Coffman-Mackey.
“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to share their work, and they’re never judged. I think that it’s the perfect place to create a style of writing for yourself, and to become comfortable in your type of writing.”
These activities, along with many others, are what you can expect at CWC meetings, every Thursday after school in room 2222.