Why I Enjoy Going to Jail

People ask me why I like teaching classes at the jail. By ‘people’ I mean everyone- colleagues, friends, family members, random strangers, my husband. I realize that it is a strange thing, but I actually look forward to going to Jail North. Why? This is why:

Below are a few examples of evaluations from my Flash Fiction class, adult inmates, Jail North:

“I would like to work harder with my writing and more on my Flash Fiction. I think this class helped me out a lot.”
“She (the instructor) made things fun and exciting. Also she made it understandable with an open mind. Thank you for your class, Peace & Blessings.”
“This class made me want to learn more.”

We did a writing exercise today that I highly recommend- stream of consciousness writing. It’s great for the novice writer, or for those that think that they have nothing to say. I explained the concept to the class. They were to write in their journals for two minutes about whatever popped in their head, no editing, rewriting or formal writing, just let the words flow. For two minutes the guys furiously wrote in their journals and all I could hear was the scribbling of pencils. Pencils down, then we read what we wrote out loud. I had to edit a bit for content, but here is an example from one of my more quiet students:
“This class has been (good) for me. I’ve learned that this is a great group of guys, and I’ve learned some things about (myself). I didn’t believe in writing. I didn’t think that it would help anything. Now when I think about this class I think about what I have learned and the power of words. Writing makes it real, somehow, something that I can see. My words have worth like they never did before. Maybe they always did, but somehow I now see their value.”
The Flash Fiction class ended today and it was a humbling experience for me. People sometimes don’t connect prison reform and library services, but I believe that we really can fight crime through literacy. There are people like the Jail North library employees and other jail librarians all over the country that offer hope to inmates in a the form of a book or a poem.
One of the guys said in class today that if he had never been sent to jail, he would have never thought to read a book, or write in journal. He explained: “It’s not like I’m glad I’m here, but in a weird way, I’m glad I’m having this experience. Going to a class. Reading over 200 books. Keeping a journal, writing down my thoughts. I never thought I had anything worthwhile to say, but it turns out that I do, and it’s nice to find something positive here, you know?”
Yes, I do. And as I said, it is humbling to know that you have helped someone realize that.
We ended with the poem ‘Our Greatest Fear,’ by Marianne Williamson, which seemed appropriate. My favorite verse:
“And as we let our own light shine,we unconsciously give other peoplepermission to do the same.”
And so, whenever some one asks me why I enjoy teaching at the jail, I will reference this post and hopefully that will explain it.
Write on, my friends, write on!

Flash Fiction- The Genre that Transcends Incarceration

You have 500 words. No more, no less. Now, write about a party that you went to, and what adventures you had. Write about what it feels like to be the last man (or woman) on Earth. Write about a personal experience, but you only have 500 words. Ready? Go.

That, dear readers, is the genre of Flash Fiction. It has several names, Short Short Stories, Sudden Fiction, Micro Stories, or Post Card Stories. Call it what you like, but these stories are short, they are sweet, and they are like a snap shot of words.

The inmates at Jail North have really taken to the concept of Flash Fiction. Yes, it’s a challenge for them to write something so brief, but they like the idea and boundaries of the assignments. How do you facilitate it? Well, here is my Flash Fiction guide:

1. Get a volume or two of Flash Fiction stories and introduce your participants to the genre. Flash Fiction Forward is an excellent collection. Stories like Jumper Down, The Voices in My Head, and Toasters are excellent character studies. They also give participants an idea of how to create a character within one or two paragraphs. It’s not easy.
2. I’ve been using Stephen King’s On Writing to give students an idea of how to improve their writing skills. Specifically, I’ve been using the Toolbox chapter, where Stephen King talks about building a better story through proper grammar, vocabulary, and writing style. I also used King’s The Stand, which has a brief interlude to the story in Chapter 38 and is actually a collection of Flash Fiction stories. This is where I got the idea for the Last Man on Earth assignment. Thank you, Stephen King.
3. Brainstorm with your participants. I had a big white board and I wrote the assignment in the middle (The Last Man on Earth). Then I had the guys give me ideas about potential stories. I explained that anything goes, this is just the planning period. We talked about perspective; would they write it from their perspective as the last person on Earth, or someone else’s? The guys wrote everything down as used it as a guide for their own story.
4. Read stories out loud! Giving feedback is crucial, especially to participants who might have never gotten any type of feedback on their writing before this class. I always took notes when a participant read his story, and I encouraged the guys to take notes while critiquing other stories too. I set up the feedback portion of the class as a way to provide helpful critique, not hurtful, and of course, to respect the person who is reading. I have not had a problem with the critiques; the inmates were very constructive and supportive of each other’s work.
5. Edit, and then edit again. The idea of editing might be second nature to some of us, but for others editing is the most difficult process. The participants in my Flash Fiction class had a hard time ‘cutting down’ their stories because they really liked them. However, I pointed out that many of their descriptions could be edited down to a few sentences, not a few paragraphs. Because the inmates had to hand-write their stories, I tell them that 500 words is roughly one page of written material, front and back.

The class has gone well and I have been very impressed with the quality of work the participants have written. There are several in my class of nine who say that they are not writers, but they love to hear the stories. I let these guys stay in the class because they were very active in the discussions and critique, and provided good insight into several stories. Next week is the last class, and while I am sorry to see it end I am so glad that I was able to introduce these guys to this exciting genre.
Feel free to take this program and use it wt your library (or school). It works well both in jail and out.