The Impact of Creative Writing on L2 Writer Confidence

Abstract

Earlier research I conducted indicated that students lacked confidence in their L2 writing and in their ability to express themselves in their L2. It was hypothesised that creative writing could have an impact on these areas. Over the course of the 2019 academic year, third-year English majors in a Japanese university enrolled in a creative writing program completed a “Language Skills Assessment,” kept a learner diary under freewriting conditions and took part in semi-structured interviews which were conducted at the end of the year. Despite a small sample size, the results were positive. Results from the questionnaires showed an upturn in self-assessment of L2 writing ability. Word count in freewriting activities showed an increase indicating a concurrent increase in writing fluency, an indicator of increased confidence. Responses in learner diaries and in the semi-structured interviews supported these results, and students were clear that creative writing was a significant factor in their increased confidence regarding L2 writing.