Fostering Creativity

I'll likely be teaching Creative Writing online for my college next year, for I've been given the green light to design the course for that environment. I used to teach said course for rival institutions both on ground and online. I like teaching the course for one main reason: it meant so much to me.

Why? I guess it was the course that endorsed my creativity more than any other, save actual art classes. I always enjoyed having that element of my person appreciated. You could tell me I was smart or analytical or witty--and it would not really matter...but if I were told I was creative, well then, that was the highest complement, the fuel that launched me down a dozen paths.

I am still creative in writing and in building things. Sometimes its the smallest thing around the house, like mounting jars creatively with my wife. Other times the creative outlet is a much larger scale like my pirate ship project or the haunted houses I used to design.

I find that fostering creativity in others is perhaps the very most rewarding aspect of my job. I mentioned previously that I like to boost student self-confidence and expression in their writing. Igniting creativity takes that to another level, in my opinion.

The most important contribution I might be able to make might be to foster creativity in my own children. In that one small way, I think I'm succeeding well as a father. My kids are very, very creative. I know, every parent thinks such things and brags accordingly, but trust me, my children are off the charts. Maybe in another entry I will elaborate on that!