English 221, or “Introduction to Writing Fiction,” is a mid-level creative writing course taught at Longwood University. This class focused heavily on the development of short stories through the use of creative elements, such as character and plot design, and developing an understanding of traditional writing structures. My artifact from this class is my final draft of a story I wrote this semester entitled “Slow Burn,” which analyzes a couple’s struggles during a natural disaster event. This story displays my mastery of the elements taught in this class, as demonstrated through my intelligently designed plot structure and excellent character development while remaining under 1,500 words – a daunting challenge for any writer!

I found this class immensely enjoyable. I have been writing creatively since I could hold a pencil, and this class helped me refine my writing to the point that I would be comfortable publishing it. I can see this course having some impacts on my social work career. However, the most influential among them could be creating children’s and adult stories that I could publish to reduce fear around the healthcare system and social work circles.