Former students, Visiting Writers, and members of the San Francisco literary community know what Creative Writing has meant to them and offered back to this city since its founding in 2001 by Heather Woodward, Founding Director Emeritus. These testimonials offer a glimpse into how CW has impacted people over the years––and will continue to flourish!

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Dave Eggers, 2011, author and co-found of 826 Valencia

“I’ve been teaching weekly high school classes at 826 Valencia for about ten years now, and the high school most often represented in these classes is the School of the Arts. When 826 Valencia opened its doors in 2002, SOTA kids started flooding in for evening workshops, weekend activities, and our summer writing and publishing intensive. And it became clear from the start that SOTA students were uniformly hard-working, self-possessed, knowledgeable and sophisticated about their place in the world, and very serious about pursuing careers in the arts. So serious, in fact, that even after the schoolday was done, they were hungry for more. That means that SOTA is doing something — maybe everything — right. The educators at SOTA are lighting a fire within these young people, making them passionate and insatiable makers and students of the arts. Without a doubt, if I had grown up in San Francisco, I would have fought like hell to attend the School of the Arts.”

Matt Williams, editor, Two-Bit Magazine

I am the editor of Two-Bit Magazine, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading a number of poems and stories from your students…. I’m truly impressed at the quality of work coming out of your program, even from your younger students. They are always competitive with other submissions. It’s a blessing to see that such an [arts-focused] school as yours exists…. clearly, you’re doing something right.

Aly Robalino, CW Student, Class of 2012

Four years. Four years is a long time to be in one place. The Creative Writing department has been my work and my home, fused into a mishy-mash of community and love. Through plays, poetry, fiction, I’ve become familiar with sounds and the sense words make. First entering this department, much like my style of writing, which was immature, brash, and striving to be mature for the wrong reasons, I was too young and inexperienced. However, as the years progressed, my work underwent extensive, yet tender change. I myself grew with it, and thankfully, out of the yoga pants stage too.

Vanessa Cabrera, CW Student, Class of 2012

The best thing Creative Writing could have given me was exposure. As a freshman I was helping create lesson plans for middle school students and was given the opportunity to actually teach.  As a sophomore, I was a poetry editor, working on the publication of the school’s literary journal, umläut. I would continue on the umläut staff through senior year, becoming co-editor-in-chief.

My exposure was not just experiences, but exposure to literature, film, and culture. As a freshman I came in with tunnel vision, my eyes set on becoming a fiction writer, the only writing I found to be enjoyable. Poetry was never my thing, in fact I kind of disliked it. Eighth grade covered structured poetry, from haikus to sonnets, all written by people I found boring. Ironically I now identify as “poet.” Given the choice between writing fiction or poetry, my obvious answer is POETRY! Weirdly enough my thoughts and way I perceive the world around me is through poetry, it makes sense and “flows.”  Creative Writing poetry did not just cover the standard Shakespearean sonnet; in fact I don’t think I’ve ever written a sonnet that truly adheres to the rules.

Rebecca Straznickas, CW Student, Class of 2012

To anybody considering applying, I would ask the following questions: Are you a reader? Do you have thoughts that burn your skull’s innards, thoughts that seem to beg for a presence in the literal, literate world? Perhaps it’s worth it to apply to this place, this Creative Writing department, where those thoughts can develop into full-blown ideas.

Creative Writing has been a second home, with family members constantly graduating, some leaving half-way through, but a select few keeping with me the entire way. Like a home, there is a mother in Heather (though she strives to remain professional, she simply cannot help her maternal ways, and we love her for it). And like a home, sometimes you have an urge to run away. But most like a home, once you have been welcomed into it, you are intrinsically a part of it, and it is always yours.

Hannah Shr, CW Student, Class of 2008

In summary, we are a bunch of crazy, loud, funny, goofy, and dedicated people who are here to re-write the world.

John Chiang, father of Sam Chiang, Class of 2007

The Creative Writing Department at SOTA is the sparkle on a hidden jewel of the San Francisco public school system….Heather nurtures each student passionately and personally, and hopes that they will return to visit as successful adults.

Nicholas Sanz-Gould, CW Student, Class of 2007

CW constantly stretches one’s limits by introducing the student to new methods and ideas….This is the best school experience I have ever had.

Christina Oettel-Flaherty, CW Student, Class of 2006

In the first month alone, just being in the same room with so many amazing people with such a broad spectrum of writing styles made my writing improve exponentially.

Dinah Stroe, mother of Sarah Stroe, Class of 2005

Heather skillfully, thoughtfully and insightfully has crafted a Creative Writing program for high school students that lights them up. She invites them to dive into San Francisco’s creative community through playwriting workshops, poetry slams, community service experiences and so much more. They work shoulder to shoulder with professional writers. She cheers their every accomplishment and carefully cultivates this very special community of young writers.

Reuben Poling, CW Student, Class of 2004

I walked into the Creative Writing program as a short, skinny kid in a speed metal t-shirt and jeans with few social skills, no writing discipline, and no clue what I was going to do with my life. I walked out two years later as a short, skinny kid in a speed metal t-shirt and jeans with an easy smile, a portfolio full of work, and the knowledge that I could do just about anything with my life as long as I kept writing. CW didn’t just teach me how to write an interesting story — it taught me how to LIVE one.

Sarah Gadye, teacher, Hoover Middle School

They [SOTA CW interns} have been amazing. Yes, the students love them. But I have been most impressed by the professionalism of these two SOTA students in their interactions with me and their organized approach to teaching poetry. No just skating by for them. From their responses to the students’ writing to their regular lesson plans, they have been consistent and effective. This one class, in particular, benefits from high school role models. Alex and Shanna have provided outstanding role models for my sixth graders, in addition to providing outstanding poetry teaching!