On January 3rd, 2019, 826DC Executive Director Zachary Clark was a guest on The Kojo Nnamdi Show!
Zachary joined show host Kojo Nnamdi, Washington City Paper Fiction Contest judge Tayla Burney, winner Danielle Stonehirsch, and Studio Pause Director Sushmita Mazumdar for a segment about writing fiction here in Washington, DC.
He spoke, among other things, about the value of creative writing and how empowering publishing opportunities can be for young people.
“Creative writing,” Zachary told listeners, “is really as much about problem-solving as any other kind of writing is…[it’s] providing young people with the space to contend with problems and identify challenges.”
That process, he continued, can look different for each student with whom 826DC writes—and that’s more than okay.
“There are so many access points to the practice of writing,” he explained. He emphasized how important it is to understand that, to meet students where they are, and to invest in helping students feel heard.
Zachary’s advice for writers, no matter where they are in their writing journey: “Write every day. A sentence counts!”
Click here for more about the segment, and check out “5 Tips for Young and Emerging Writers” on The Kojo Nnamdi Show Blog for more writing advice for Zachary!