English students hear slam poet, attend workshops at Writing Festival

Arts & Entertainment, Headline, News — By admin on November 20, 2009 5:10 pm

By Dan Malsom, Editor-in-Chief

Twenty WHS students met on Nov. 20 at Forest View Educational Center for the District 214 Creative Writing Festival.

The festival brought together interested students from all six district schools. English teachers, dance teachers and other district graduates led sessions about topics including fiction writing, playwriting, slam poetry and poetic dance.

Kevin Coval, slam poet, began the festival by reading some of his poetry and talking about the influences that led him to the art of slam poetry. Coval co-founded Louder Than a Bomb, a Chicagoland teen slam poetry competition. Last year, WHS formed a team to compete at Louder Than a Bomb.

“I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and I believe that they should have a place to tell them,” Mr. Coval said.

Growing up in Northbrook, Ill., Mr. Coval listened to and learned from various hip-hop artists, Michael Jackson and Prince. He spends a lot of time in Chicago and many of his poems describe or focus on the city.

“You don’t have to participate in violence to voice your aggression,” Mr. Coval said during his talk at the beginning of the day.

Pat Cladovan, senior, attended the festival after completing Creative Writing with Christine Pacyk, English teacher, during first term.

Cladovan said he went on the trip “honestly, to learn how to write better, to put my ideas on paper.”

Ms. Pacyk and Laura Wagner, English teacher, led workshops at the festival. In addition, brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, WHS graduates, and members of successful indie rock bands, led workshops in songwriting.

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Tags: Chicago, Chicagoland, Christine Pacyk, Creative Writing, Creative Writing FEstival, District 214, fiction writing, Forest View Educational Center, Illinois, indie rock, Kevin Coval, Laura Wagner, Louder Than a Bomb, Michael Jackson, Mike Kinsella, Northbrook, Pat Cladovan, playwriting, poetic dance, Prince, slam poetry, Time Kinsella, Wheeling High School, whs