A Letter to Educators and Writers

The following is adapted from Inspired Guide to Writing the Short Story by Christina Heffner.

Dear Educators,

A student's voice is vital to engagement; students must be heard and valued. Over the past fifteen years, students have continued to amaze me. The insights and profound connections they’ve made through the writing process inspired me to create this resource. I’ve had the honor of gaining access to my students’ greatest worries, joys, and thoughts. This has allowed me to deepen my understanding, and therefore, relationship with each and every one of them. My hope is that, as an educator, you will also find a way to gain a deeper appreciation for each of your students as well.

In my book, Inspired Guide to Writing the Short Story, I wrote the lessons with the intention of saving educators the time and effort of creating a curriculum, gifting you with more time to read, edit, and collaborate with your students and their work. The lessons invite students to create a story that means something to them.

Inspired Guide to Writing the Short Story is also intended as an exploration for you to work alongside your students. Sharing “I” with them is a way to show that you are committed to this process with them. They will not share themselves until they know you respect their views and want to hear what they have to say. They may need a scribe, audio recorder, or loads of convincing. Whatever it is, your presence and attention will uncover what’s needed to unleash their story.

I know you may be nervous that this possibly can’t reach the student who hates to write or the one that won’t complete their work. I’ve had my fair share of students stare blankly at a white page and not write a single word for weeks. Then, one day, they arrive with a story clenched tightly in their fists. With encouragement, they would eventually release their grip and share stories so profound that it has shaken us both to our core. This process has taught me that everyone has something to say and these hesitant students are often the ones that experience the greatest transformation.

When you feel at a loss, reach out to a friend and share how hard it is. Laugh, cry, do whatever you need to do to release your feelings around it. Brainstorm with fellow teachers! This profession, even though we are surrounded by people all day, can often feel isolating.

Please remember that your students have most likely had multiple people, throughout their childhood, telling them to be quiet and discrediting their views, making them doubt their contribution. What they desperately need is for you to tell them that their stories matter — that you are eager to hear what they have to say. It is your responsibility to help them tackle the fear that undermines their ability to write with confidence.

Dear Writers,

Welcome to this incredible journey! You have the opportunity to explore the many facets of a writer’s life as you deepen your understanding of yourself along the way. The process will ultimately lead you to become a published, short story writer.

This will take hard work and dedication.

The gifts of being a writer include:

· Becoming part of the solution by exposing the unexposed

· The motivation to look closely at life and deepen your appreciation of it

· The opportunity to share feelings, observations, and memories

· A decreased sense of isolation through connection with your readers

· Becoming a better reader

You will write about:

· The truth of your experience in your own unique voice

· Your memories and imagination, both of which are rich and full of ideas

· Why you care — not a grandiose philosophy necessarily — just simply a situation that matters to you

Staring at a blank page, waiting for words to come won’t work. You will need persistence and sustained effort. You can help build this “muscle” by creating a ritual and a special writing place. Sitting down at approximately the same time every day in the same place will train your creative subconscious. Anything you can do to quiet your mind and listen to your intuition will clear a space for your writing voice and will help you tackle self-doubt.

Beware of the two most dangerous enemies: mismanagement of time and self-criticism. If either of these things is an issue, get help from your mentor and continue to talk about your challenges and brainstorm strategies to counteract them. Reach out and let someone know how you are feeling — with support, you can and will overcome these challenges.

Be open and committed. Be prepared to learn alongside your peers and watch your writing mature. Above all else, have fun! (You can, of course, choose to make it a chore and complain about the work, but I think having fun sounds like more, well, fun.)

Your peers, teacher(s), and mentor are there to encourage you to continue, celebrate your successes, and support you when it gets hard and you want to give up. Don’t be afraid of what people will think; be afraid of not telling your story. Writers don’t make up stories; they uncover them through the process of writing.

With the utmost respect as you embark on this adventure,
Christina Soares Heffner

To learn more about the resources Christina provides for Educators and Writers, you can find Inspired Guide to Writing the Short Story on Amazon.

CHRISTINA SOARES HEFFNER is a Montessori-trained teacher, program director, and curriculum developer who is passionate about igniting student voice. She began teaching in 2003, in elementary and adolescent Montessori communities. In 2008, she was a part of the inaugural faculty for Baltimore’s first public Montessori school. She later started the adolescent program at the school, developed the curriculum, and wrote the charter for approval from the city. In 2014, Christina joined Greenspring Montessori School as program director and lead instructor for the adolescent community. She reimagined the language curriculum and later co-wrote the curriculum for the addition of 9th grade. Christina also had the privilege of teaching at the Sekolah Montessori Kiara Karitas school in Indonesia, where she also wrote English-language curriculum and trained elementary instructors. Away from school, Christina is the owner of Falls Road Aikido and is the assistant director of the Baltimore Kids Chess League.