Students were encouraged to find their voice at a creative writing workshop hosted by the Language Arts department on Friday, Oct. 18 in Sam Fore Hall.
Dr. Sobia Khan was this semester’s host of a creative writing workshop. In her workshop, her mission was to teach students how to make their writing unique when telling their life experiences. She also emphasized the need for everyone’s stories to be written so they can be told.
“What I would like for students from the creative writing workshop is to take away is confidence and the belief in their own voices and stories,” said Dr. Khan.
To kick off the workshop, Dr. Khan asked students to answer the following question: “Why do you want to write?” Each student then shared their response and Dr. Khan was able to narrow it down to four main reasons to write. The reasons include, for individual and collective communal histories, for an audience, telling the importance of your story, and why your story is integral to the fabric of society.
“I’m great with academic writing and APA format, but when it comes to creative writing and journaling I kind of struggle with that. I’m hoping she can give us some tools to open up that creative outlet,” said Alexis Cano, a clinical mental health counseling student.
Dr. Khan encouraged students to write about their feelings and begin daily journaling.
“I started writing because I was angry with people, with situations, with frustrations,” Dr. Khan said.
Starting to write creatively comes from within, and for Khan it was about transforming personal experiences into words.
“I would like to see how they [my stories] change and grow. You know write it down and maybe a few years later come back to it,” Melisa Diaz, interdisciplinary studies student, said.
Dr. Khan expressed she was a better writer in her twenties because she didn’t over analyze. She practiced journaling daily, wrote freely and frequently during her early years.
“Read and write, keep reading and keep writing. The more you practice the better you get,” Dr. Khan, said.
