The Creative Writing Field Study in Bukittinggi provided students with hands-on experience in observing, imagining, and transforming real-life settings into vivid story worlds for their short story projects.
English Literature Students Explore Bukittinggi for Creative Writing Field Study
Bukittingi, October 4, 2025 — The English Literature Study Program of Universitas Andalas conducted a Creative Writing Field Study in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, on Saturday, October 4, 2025. The activity was part of the English Creative Writing class, designed to help students experience firsthand how real-world observation can enrich the art of storytelling.
Accompanied by lecturers of the English Creative Writing class as well as other faculty members from the English Literature Study Program, students spent the day engaging in a series of structured writing exercises aimed at developing their descriptive and imaginative writing skills.
The field study was divided into several interconnected stages. The Observation Activities began with Sensory Walk, Focus on Details, and Snapshot Sketch, where students practiced perceiving their surroundings through sight, sound, touch, and even emotion. These exercises trained them to capture vivid, realistic details that would later serve as the backbone of their short story settings.
In the Imaginative Activities session, students explored People-Watching & Character Sketch, Dialogue in Place, and Mood Mapping. These activities encouraged them to observe human behavior and interaction in public spaces, allowing them to imagine characters, build authentic dialogue, and understand how a location can influence emotional tone and atmosphere in fiction.
The next phase, Writing and Creative Exercises, included Timed Writing Spots, Setting as Character, and the Mini-Scene Draft—where students composed a short 2–3 sentence scene that could only take place in that specific setting. This task helped them understand how setting is not just a background but an active element that shapes narrative and meaning.
The day concluded with a reflective session where participants collected soundscapes — ambient sounds, street noises, and conversations — to enhance sensory detail in their later writing.
“The best stories begin with paying attention to the world around you,” said one of the lecturers. “Through this field study, students learn that observation is the foundation of creativity — every sound, scent, and detail can become part of a story.”
Students responded enthusiastically, noting that the outdoor learning experience helped them generate new ideas and think more creatively about setting and atmosphere. The activity also served as preparation for their short story project, which will incorporate the observations and writing exercises gathered from this field experience.
The Creative Writing Field Study not only strengthened students’ writing abilities but also demonstrated how literature and place can intersect meaningfully — showing that even familiar locations can become powerful sources of inspiration when seen through a writer’s eyes.
