EXPLORING STUDENTS’ INTERESTS AND CHALLENGES IN WRITING FICTION IN CREATIVE WRITING CLASS

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article explored students' interests and challenges in writing fiction in EFL creative writing classes. The study used a qualitative approach involving 43 college students studying creative writing as the subjects of the study. Research instruments for this study were questionnaires and interviews, the first of which asked students what genres of fiction they were interested in, and the second confirmed their motivations in writing the fiction genre and their challenges in writing fiction. Data from questionnaires were analysed using percentages, while data from the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Findings of the study revealed that (1) most students (53.5%) were interested in and preferred writing romance fiction, and (2) most students experienced challenges in writing short stories including difficulties in developing an exciting story, deciding on a plot and elaborate dialogues, and defining the characters in the story.ABSTRAKPenelitiaan ini mengeksplorasi minat dan tantangan mahasiswa dalam menulis fiksi di kelas menulis kreatif EFL. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan melibatkan 43 mahasiswa yang mempelajari penulisan kreatif sebagai subjek penelitian. Instrumen penelitian untuk penelitian ini adalah kuesioner dan wawancara, yang pertama menanyakan kepada siswa genre fiksi apa yang mereka minati, dan yang kedua mengkonfirmasi motivasi mereka dalam menulis genre fiksi dan tantangan mereka dalam menulis fiksi. Data hasil kuesioner dianalisis dengan persentase, sedangkan data hasil wawancara dianalisis dengan analisis tematik (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Temuan penelitian ini mengungkapkan bahwa (1) sebagian besar siswa (53,5%) tertarik dan lebih suka menulis fiksi roman, dan (2) sebagian besar siswa mengalami tantangan dalam menulis cerita pendek termasuk kesulitan dalam mengembangkan cerita yang menarik, menentukan plot dan dialog yang terperinci, dan mendefinisikan karakter dalam cerita.How to Cite: Dewi, U., Siregar, F. R. (2022). Exploring Students’ Interests and Challenges in Writing Fiction in Creative Writing Class. IJEE (Indonesian Journal of English Education), 9(2), 359-371. doi:10.15408/ijee.v9i2.28372