Like many Oberlin students, sophomore David Merriman became frustrated with the creative writing department’s exclusivity, rigid structure and workshop-style classes. But unlike all the rest, his discontent motivated him to start a Creative Writing Experimental College class to offer students a non-traditional, community-oriented way to write.

New to teaching, Merriman hopes to fuse his favorite elements of English and writing classes to provide an in-depth analysis of certain literary styles and philosophies.

“It’s like an English class from a writer’s perspective, or a broad, thematic writing class that focuses on construction. It’s the class I’ve always wished I could take,” he said.

He believes that the workshop method employed by most academic institutions can negatively alter a writer’s individual style, and thus he seeks to create a new type of writing class, one that he says is “more exploratory” and provides “a creative blank slate.”

Merriman, who spent his Winter Term working on a novel in Florida, says that writing appeals to him because of the ability to “create art with words,” an ability he looks forward to sharing with his class.

“This course is designed to maximize progress and minimize damage to a writer’s individuality,” he said. “I’ve been playing around with ideas of how I want to teach creative writing, and I want to test them out.”

The class meets twice a week. One is a lecture-based class that explores a certain genre, and the other is a discussion-based class centered on sharing and discussing student work.

“I only want students to share how a piece makes them feel, what moves them and what doesn’t, but I don’t want them to suggest changes to one another.”

He stresses, however, that the class can steer itself in any direction it chooses.

“I want to give up a lot of control. If anyone has ideas about changing the course, I am definitely down for that.”

Everyone who submitted an application — 14 in all — made it into the class.

“I applied because I wanted to be able to write and exchange ideas in a non-academic setting,” said first-year Julia Nakad. “I don’t want to have to worry about my GPA when I’m writing, and that’s why I like the idea of this class.”

For Merriman, the application process produced positive results.

“I wanted a group that could get together and all be into it,” he said. “I was happy I didn’t have to turn down anyone. The great thing about the ExCo is that you don’t have to be a creative writing major to take it. A lot of people approached me who said, ‘I really like writing and I want to learn more about it, but I can’t get into any Oberlin writing classes!’ So I’m glad to provide an environment for them. You really can’t write in a bubble.”