Student Writers Harness the Art Form and Unleash Their Creativity

The pen is often mightier than the sword, and in the hands of student authors, it becomes a channel for originality and innovation. In particular, the act of creative writing allows for an embodiment of the most inexplicable concepts; a medium to connect with and uplift others. When writing for themselves, others, and competitions, three Maryland students shine as examples of young writers expanding their own and others’ worlds through their language and demonstrating the momentousness of the craft.

Montgomery Blair freshman Mira Sylvan enjoys drafting fantasy stories, a genre she believes gives her the most room for artistry. She primarily writes for herself, without specific goals in mind, whenever a personal experience, outside view or a meaningful conversation strikes her. Being an imaginative person, she constantly thinks of story scenarios, which she develops through her writing. “I can form words in a way I wouldn’t generally, so it’s a way for me to explore different things and be creative,” she said. “I also think a lot of the time I imagine stuff as movies, but then since I can’t make a movie, I write it; it makes me happy to do that as a form of art.” Sylvan credits her creative writing classes with building her skills and recommends learning about the art of writing while noting everyday inspiration and encouraging oneself to write more often. She hopes to publish a book in the future, reflecting that with writing, “it’s really powerful that you can express things in so many [ways]… it can just convey really complex ideas, maybe even better sometimes than talking or other forms of expression.”

St. Mary’s High School senior Ransom Plaster has been telling stories since childhood. His oeuvre consists of poetry and prose, marked by influences from new and old pieces and wordsmiths, as well as an integration of fantastical details into his tales. Plaster’s writing process involves shaping various images and concepts from his imagination into a concrete idea, developing it further into a story, and publishing it on Substack for like-minded readers. “I want to write so that people reading what I write can sink physically into their seats, and sink into the story, and get wrapped in a spell,” he said. “I get inspired by these old writings and I want to write something similar to bless people with the same sort of feelings I get from reading that stuff, and make it accessible to more modern audiences who don’t necessarily understand it.” As someone who marvels at the beauty of nature, Plaster noted that “my goal in writing is to convey the richness and depth of experience… I write to inspire people and myself.” He recommends that other writers write consistently, spend quiet moments with their thoughts, and fall in love with the process. His ultimate goal? “I want to take all these things that are—these ideas, these images—that are inside my head and in my heart, and I want to share them with the world,” he said, so that perhaps others, “one day, pick up the pen and write something that makes the next generation a little brighter and a little smarter and a little more inspired.”

Wootton High School sophomore Catherine Levy has long been drawn to the composition of poetry and prose, particularly realistic fiction and descriptive verse. She challenges herself to vividly evoke objects or people without explicitly naming them, lending depth, life, and reality to her words. Competitions guide her creative process, encouraging her writing and introducing themes she might not have otherwise considered, as well as the possibility of earning prestigious awards. Through her craft, she enjoys “bringing meaning into things that don’t usually have a meaning into them,” such as school lockers or rain. Levy’s advice to other writers? “Just to reach out to more and more competitions regardless of whether you think you’re a good writer or not,” she said. “The practice and motivation it gives you to write, I think, is very valuable—and, you know, someone has to win the competitions, so it might as well be you.” Overall, Levy stresses writing’s force for articulation. “It allows me to express myself in [ways] which words I use on a daily basis, on the spot, don’t, allowing me to think deeply about everything I say until I’ve maybe not perfected, but achieved close to perfection.”

These writers are motivated, talented students who represent Maryland youth’s dedication to the art. While each writes in distinctive genres for different audiences, all three find its catalyst in the world around them, share an admiration for the form, and praise its cathartic nature. They demonstrate the beauty, strength, and comfort of the written word, as well as its extraordinary promise for those who are passionate about it.

Ultimately, literature and the arts are among humanity’s greatest gifts, which deliver grace and solace for whatever life brings. “Art is the language of the soul,” Plaster said, a thought which he credits to his father. “We use art as a form of communication to communicate what is in our souls and what is going on with us, whether it’s good or bad, broken or in the right direction… Those feelings are so complicated, minds are so complicated, hearts—so they can seem so foreign to us. But art, art is a way to communicate it. And that’s a very important thing.”

Written by Daniela Naaman of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Graphic by Sona Saravana