Foreword

When it was decided that we would begin the Spring 2020 semester entirely online, my first thought was, “Oh no! How am I going to teach the creative writing class?” I was worried that not being in an actual classroom together would make it difficult to facilitate the kind of affable mood and supportive culture that I felt was necessary to enable students to produce bold, imaginative works. I was concerned that it would be difficult to replicate such an atmosphere through distance learning.

However, to my great relief, the creative writing students immediately stepped up to the challenge of reading their works aloud in our online sessions. Beyond this, I found that they were eager to communicate with each other, offering encouragement and meaningful feedback after each student presented a new work. I was rather amazed at how quickly and confidently the students constructed the environment necessary to intensify and employ their creative energy. I was even more impressed by their ability to maintain this level of focus throughout the entire semester.

To my great delight, the Fall 2020 semester continued in the same tone. Though it would have been certainly within reason for students to show signs of fatigue after months of Zoom classes, the quality of their writing never suffered, and their willingness to read their work aloud to their classmates never dwindled.

I would like to thank all of the students whose work is presented in the following pages, for showing me that readiness and creativity easily overcome all presumed obstacles.

David F. Hoenigman

Visiting Lecturer

Faculty of Environment and Information Studies