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Synopsis :

In this talk, Mrs. Marie Bong, Principal of Katong Convent speaks about Creative Writing in Schools by children and young people. Most young people feel the urge to write stories or poems. It is part of the growing up process. Creative writing has always existed, but in the last 20 years, schools have deliberately encouraged this type of writing to promote the love of literature. Creative writing by the young has instrinsic worth and is valuable for revealing their insights and visions. Some such works are published regularly by UNESCO. In Singapore, the first book of students' poems called 'Creative Writing' was released in March 1969. The poems were the result of a ceative writing experiment carried out two years previously. Immediate recognition was given to the poems. Speakers from the Convent rendered these poems as part of Singapore's 150th anniversary celebrations. The pieces in this book are original and spontaneous and include complaints about adults and expressions of frustrated rage. The students speak as individuals and express their feelings. Mrs. Bong feels that creative writing is different from other types of writing as it has personal involvement by the writer. Today, magazines are devoting more space to this type of writing. In October 1968, a Raffles Institution teacher organised a creative writing competition for all schools. Poet Dr. Edwin thumboo saw the entries and was inspired by the quality of the writing. The idea of a combined schools creative writing magazine was born, an editorial board formed, and the first issue was published in May 1969. There was a lot of scepticism about the magazine. However, Mrs. Bong feels that we must have faith and confidence in our own literary powers.