Just think outside the box: creative writing school with writer Leonhard F. Seidl

Sixth graders from Isen enthusiastically participated in the creative writing school with writer Leonhard F. Seidl.

Isen

- There were writing tips from professionals for the sixth graders of Isen Middle School.

Writer and lecturer Leonhard F. Seidl, who attended his former school at the invitation of the parish library, also explained that there is a lot of work in a novel and that it is difficult to earn money by writing.

It started with a writing exercise that focused on having fun.

Seidl had already explained to the students of teacher Judith Brucker at the beginning of the two unusual school hours that he was not interested in spelling and grammar, or in calligraphy.

Without having to pay attention to syntax and punctuation, the children were able to fabricate a surreal dialogue in which the aim was to answer the unknown questions of their bank neighbors.

"Tries to go ways that you don't go every day," Seidl asked the 16 boys and girls.

"It doesn't have to make sense." That it "funnily enough, it goes well," said Florian while reading out his dialogue.

Leni also had an example ready: When asked "Why am I so bad at math?" The succinct answer was: "It's just like that!"

Before the story, for which the writer had given the students four components - a question from the surreal dialogue, the mention of a boyfriend or girlfriend, the forest setting and an obstacle - they worked together to determine when a story is exciting. “Let unusual things happen, think outside the box, because you can do anything in stories. That's exactly the nice thing about writing, ”said Seidl. It is also important to raise questions that the reader is eager to answer. "If we don't know what is happening, we want to read on."

With her story, in which she lets her sleeping friend ask the question: "Where's my flying pig?", Kati hit the mark. Seidl also described Fabian's contribution as “super successful”, in which a large world was created in just a few lines and a well-rounded story emerged.

The fact that the students engaged in the tasks without hesitation is due to Seidl's experience as a lecturer in literary writing. Although he teaches “adults who want to learn to write”, he had already dealt with young people during his social work studies. The statement that he had been in jail after completing his nursing training, BOS, professional high school diploma and university studies made the students puzzled, but they didn't dare to ask why he was in jail until the end. Instead of a criminal past, Seidl's stay in prison only referred to a writing project with juveniles who had committed criminal offenses.

Library director Mariannne Brucker was enthusiastic about the creative writing school. It was realized thanks to funding from the federal government as part of “Neustart Kultur”. The Sankt Michaelsbund also provided support. Brucker found it astonishing not only the zeal of the children, but also their fairness towards their classmates. "Nobody made fun of anyone else," she said happily. Class leader Judith Brucker also wants to keep up with creative writing. After poems to which she inspired the students, prose is now on the program.

Writing continues for Seidl too. He is currently doing nature writing on a scholarship. His sixth novel, which is set mainly in Isen, will appear in the spring. The 45-year-old attended elementary school here, his parents live in the market town. However, the personal relationship does not prevent him from looking critically at the past. His new novel, for example, revolves around the Isener forestry councilor Georg Escherich (1870–1941), once head of the Bavarian state association of resident services and founder of the "Organization Escherich".

Seidl did not conceal from the young people that his productivity also has financial reasons.

You have to work a lot, the text has to be revised about fifteen times before it goes to the editing department.

"It is not like some think that I lie on the meadow all day and wait until a sentence occurs to me."  

ANNE HUBER