Creative Writing, part one

Smiling Heart

cute little smiling heart
feet facing out
arms outstretched
walking toward
outstretched arms

discarded toy
lifeless lump
red plastic
somewhere
in the dark

somewhere
smiling
somewhere
arms
reach out to
someone else

cute little plastic heart
walking forward
smiling

The emphasis in Alma McKertich's creative writing classes was on the process of revision. She favored the three draft approach championed by Piers Anthony in the author's notes at the end of each of his novels. The class formed a peer review group and with their reactions duly noted, one could rework a piece of material with the aim of bringing the intended reaction in line with that of actual readers. I started the first of three such classes that I would attend—the later two focused specifically on a type of writing, one on fiction and one on poetry—in January 2006.

Trasi Tadehara had a red Grease lunchbox instead of a purse. That may or may not have been what I noticed about her first. I remember I liked the skirt she had on—it was a really cool crinkly fabric and it was purple. She looked pretty cool. She was very friendly and gregarious, enough that even I could feel like she was a friend after knowing her only for a day or two. She gave Valentine's cards to everyone on Valentine's Day. I was thrilled to get mine—it was my twentieth birthday.