Writing Unbound: Finding a Place for Fiction

While the reading of fiction is at the absolute center of the English/Language Arts, the writing of fiction usually fades out in middle school—if it lasts that long. Yet the desire to write fiction-- to create imagined worlds, characters, and conflicts--doesn’t die. In this short course, we will explore ways to open the door to fiction writing. We will try our hand at short fiction; we will interview teachers who bring fiction (even novel writing) into the classroom; and we’ll talk with students who are avid fiction writers. We’ll even show how fiction writing can support literary analysis.  

Tom Newkirk is a Professor of English, Emeritus at the University of New Hampshire. In his career there he founded the New Hampshire Literacy Institute, the Learning Through Teaching Program, and the Writers Academy—in addition to directing the First-Year writing Program. He is the author of numerous books, articles, and the editor of collections on literacy teaching at all grade levels. His most recent book is Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers (Heinemann, 2021). In his “retirement” he works as an editor for Heinemann, and for the past 10 years has served on the local school board.