CAMPUS VIEW: QUILL AND SCROLL ENHANCES CREATIVE WRITING

'The whole glory of writing lies in the fact that it forces us out of ourselves and into the lives of others.'

--- Sherwood Anderson

Thirty-three Jackson High School students roam the halls, sporting club t-shirts stamped with this quote, designed by club member Jessica Latimer. These 33, with the addition of one teacher sponsor Mrs. Terri Fisher-Reed, comprise the Quill and Scroll Writing Club of Jackson High School. Focusing on enhancement of writing skills, the group meets monthly.

Besides encouraging participation in local writing contests, the group usually participates in creative writing activities during meetings. One such exercise included freewriting with a partner, given a subject line such as a wedding in 2014.' Members wrote for about an hour, then the stories were read and judged by Mrs. Fisher-Reed, club sponsor, and myself, club president. Winners in the club-wide informal writing contest received cerafficates-for-their . .

Another creative exercise followed the Halloween motif of October. Members again paired up and began to draw monsters, employing creative imaginations. After creating ghouls and goblins, students described the creation on a separate sheet of paper. Writers then swapped descriptions, read the description given to them, and attempted to draw a picture from the descriptions. After comparing the original drawings to those drawn from descriptions, writers realized the importance of accurate, detailed descriptions.

Perhaps the biggest activities during the year for Quill and Scroll occur in the second semester. We recently sponsored the school-wide formal writing contest, admitting entries in the categories of poetry, short story, and essay. Members of Quill and Scroll judged the anonymous coded entries but were not permitted to submit an entry in the category they were to judge. Winners received a $10 cash prize. Writers of the top entries were Tara Herbst, poetry; Zach Rice, short story; and me, essay.

Having completed the writing contest, Quill and Scroll faces another major project: the Quill and Scroll Book. Club members will submit a typed piece of writing to be published by the Desktop Publishing class at JHS. The book is just a compiling of the writings of club members, and serves as a keepsake and record. The book should be completed by May.

On behalf of the other club officers (Matt Schaefer, Adam Morris, and Brian Haas) and members, I contend that Quill and Scroll provides for a creative outlet. By continuously participating in writing activities, students improve writing and communication skills, while maintaining fellowship during the afterschool meetings.