Hundreds of CCHS students gathered in the auditorium on Friday to hear the advice of a New York Times bestselling author. A.J. Finn, author of “The Woman in the Window,” spoke to students and teachers about his writing process and gave advice to those seeking guidance with their own personal writing.
“I felt like I related to him not only as a person but [also] in my writing style,” freshman Paige Manta said.
The event was an informative experience for all those involved, from students to teachers to the speaker himself. Finn shared his reasons for joining and educating CCHS students on his writing process.
“I felt like I related to him not only as a person but [also] in my writing style.”
“Literature is one of our most important legacies,” Finn said. “It is probably the single most important legacy: the written word. Literature is our primary way of communicating with each other, and it’s important that the younger generations, who are going to be communicating for us and with us in the future after we’re gone, learn to do so effectively.”
The event also led to a Q&A session where students were able to receive advice on their own personal writing experiences. Finn’s advice hit home not only for the students asking questions but also for the teachers in the audience.
“I just like that he was able to speak to the students on their level,” English teacher Nicole Hobin said. “He really took a personal interest into each and every student that asked a question, and it actually inspired me to start writing again.”
While giving advice and sharing his personal story, A.J. Finn offered more than just a story for the audience members; for some, his visit gave students a unique perspective on English as an academic subject.
“For those students who are interested in pursuing creative writing as a habit or a hobby or a career, I hope they will have paid attention to some of the suggestions I’ve made.”
“I think it gives them more opportunity to learn about writing and how creative process work,” Hobin said. “It’s good for them to see people enjoying reading and writing, and not just [seeing it as] something you have to do in a classroom.”
Finn also agreed that he hopes to inspire students for their future endeavors in the writing field.
“For those students who are interested in pursuing creative writing as a habit or a hobby or a career, I hope they will have paid attention to some of the suggestions I’ve made,” Finn said. “If they want to be effective communicators in their chosen field, or at the college-level, they need to learn to write effectively, and the best way to write effectively is to read effectively.”
Photo by Casey Chapter
