CHS Writing Project

Originally published: 2/8/2009

The month-long creative writing program for 9th grade students began today with a lively assembly. Dr. Nancy Biernat introduced students to the purpose of the initiative and outlined upcoming activities. The keynote speaker, Dr. Mick Cochrane, professor of English at Canisius College read passages from his latest novel, The Girl Who Threw Butterflies and discussed his personal writing process.

Dr. Cochrane writes every day, and compared his need to write to an athlete's need to run, or a musician's need to practice. If his is not able to write for some reason, Dr. Cochrane feels cranky, like something is not right with his day. He also spoke about his encounters with the surprise of writing. Dr. Cochrane does not outline, or plan his plot development; he just collects his ideas in a notebook. When he later goes back to read the notebook, the setting appears and characters emerge and start to take shape. Surprise!

Over the next four weeks, students will be invited to submit creative writing, poetry, works of humor, science fiction, etc. to The Writing Center. Faculty, administrators and support staff will also be challenged to join in and come up with a piece of creative writing.

On March 5th a Writers' Reception and Assembly will be held to present the writing products of the 9th grade. Participants can read their own work, have someone else read their work, or have it projected on to a screen.

Time: February 5 through March 5, 2010

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