HuckleBerry
Center for Creative Learning
Andrew Holyfield
Hi everyone! My name is Andrew. I graduated Summa Cum Laude at UC Riverside in 2016, with a B.A. in Creative Writing. While there, I completed the Honors Program, published a thesis, was an editor for both the campus Research Journal and Honors Program literary journal, joined the Writing Program as a Teaching Assistant, and completed three MFA courses, all with a 4.0 GPA.
Tutoring started for me in the campus Writing Program, in which I tutored eighteen students per week. Around that same time, my younger brother, diagnosed with Aspergers, started college. I tutored him during his four-year journey to receive his Paraprofessional Certificate.
Nerdy as it sounds, I love Grammar and read often (in-between Netflix binges). Until my time at UC Riverside, I abhorred reading and preferred the trusty summaries from Spark Notes. I know English and writing can be both challenging and boring, but perhaps all a struggling student needs a little help and positive reinforcement. If that sounds like you or your kid, I'd love to help.
I’m a published songwriter with 20+ years experience in the music industry.
Creative Writing
Ages 6-9, 9-12
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Homework: Yes! Writers need to write to become better writers!
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Requirements: Students must be willing to participate in both collaborative work and in sharing their own creative writing. This class requires discussion, oral repetition/dictation, & collaboration. While most students come out of their shells after the initial weeks, it is important that each writer brings a level of commitment to this course. ​
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This is a fiction writing class with one goal: get students excited about writing! This class takes writers through the process of writing their very own stories. Each week, students learn and review different elements of storytelling: description, dialogue, the four layers of conflict, narration etc. Each trimester takes a different approach to how we write stories and ends with a Final Project—a story written and completed by each student, presented to class during a class party.
Homework is weekly and mandatory but it is intended to be fun and simple, as a way to reiterate each week’s lesson. While grammar and rules of composition are welcome, that is not the focus of this course. The only expectation is to ensure each student expresses himself/herself and falls in love with writing, to ultimately prepare them for higher, more rigorous expectations
Fall Creative Writing
We begin the process of writing with Character. We discuss what the character Desires, and then we place Obstacles in the way to test our character. C.O.D. is the foundation of stories, and we focus on character first in this trimester.
Winter Creative Writing
This time, we take Stephen King’s approach and begin with a simple question beginning with “What if…?” This process begins with conflict. We then develop a Character who is able to overcome that problem (Obstacle) and a reason why (Desire.)
Spring Creative Writing
In our final trimester, we begin with our personal interests. We ask ourselves, “What do I like and how can I incorporate it in my story?” This process often begins with Description and Setting and focuses on the author’s voice. ​​
Contact
Andrew Holyfield