"We Gotta"

 

Some years ago – well, honestly, many years ago, back when I was young and a good deal less mature and capable than I thought I was, I worked summers as a camp counselor, and as the fates would have it, I was appointed the riflery instructor.

Now, I am not at all interested in guns and hunting and such, and wasn’t when I was made the head riflery instructor. I was given that job because the camp director wanted someone responsible working with – as I generally described it –“six rifles, 12 young campers, and 20,000 rounds of ammunition.”

The rifle range atmosphere was not good when I was given the key to the gun locker. Many of the campers didn’t want to spend a morning or afternoon in a confined setting with too many rules and no fun.

I sympathized with that, and, along with several safety-related, common sense rule modifications, I worked on what today we would call “changing the culture” of the rifle range from an activity the kids “had to do” to one they wanted to participate in. And I succeeded.

And now to the point. That’s how I mentor student writers. Writing is an excellent way to do something we all want to do – express ourselves. It’s not about rules, but about the stories we have inside of us that want out. And what is wanted is not rules, but a simple “I gotta” environment – defined as an environment in which there is no need for writing assignments, because each student’s writing spirit will not be denied:

“There ain’t no teacher here. Just me and that old guy, and I gotta get the words down before I forget ‘em.”

 

(On Friday, The single “we gotta” rule. And it may surprise you.