If there is a novel inside every English teacher, why do they sometimes suck?

[Whatthefluff]

Obviously, many English teachers have become successful upon publishing their creative writing (Stephen King, Rick Riordan, et al). But there have been a few times where I have read literary fiction from English educators up to the college level whose writing plain sucked. I wonder why someone who knows so well the complexities and necessities of good writing, who is able to provide insight so well to others’ writing, and devotes their whole life to the subject, holds little merit to their own published works.

[GOLDFISH_smile]

Well there's a reason many colleges split the majors "English Literature" and "English Writing". Tho very related, and benefit each other, they are different skills. And teaching is a whole separate skill too lol. "English Education". It's all connected, but not always equal. My husband for example loves writing, he's fucking great at writing and his books already great tho he's a long way from finishing it. But he hates teaching, and he pretty much sucks at it. 💀 He deadass almost dropped his writing major just bc 1 (one) semester of leading a basic English lab was required. 🤖

There's definitely been cases of teachers being great writers & vice versa, but as u say there's also teachers trying to write n it doesn't work so well, & vice versa. 🤷‍♀️ Just a slightly different field & yknow, people conflate them sometimes. Think qualified for one means equally qualified for the other. That's not always the case.

[slatyb]

Because compared to the very best, most things suck. In the US teaching doesn't pay all that well, and there are a lot of English teachers who are not strong writers. My twelve-year-old was a better writer than their eighth-grade English teacher. I know this because they wrote a fictional story with some very natural dialog and their idiot teacher corrected the grammar in the dialog.

[SnowedIn]

I think two reasons.

First, they may be a master of the language but they suck at plot and characters and dialogue.

Second, not all teachers are, in fact, masters of the language let alone how to use it.

[StormChaser838]

Hey my little, little Fluff !!!, you tickle me pink with how proud I get of you when I see your observations. You are spot on my little girl. First, teaching is an art and some have it and most don't, it's a vocation as much as a job. To know something is one thing and to tell someone about it, is also simple. But to teach someone something, so as to bring about a spiritual awakening and inculcate in the individual a lust towards the subject is an art of only the near divine,,,,, and it's misnomer we call them, " teachers". In truth they are portals to true freedom, because as they say, the truth may set you free,,,, but it is knowledge that is power, and the lowly teachers are the true gatekeepers of these pearly gates.

I have been very privileged in my life to have known some absolutely cat teachers, all the way up to university. Many were even Fulbright scholars, and after meeting each, my life was never the same,,,, they just lifted me to a higher plain. They were the eve's who not only talked me into biting the apple, they fucking shoved up my ass.

Now to answer your real question, having rote knowledge on any subject takes just showing up in class and going through the motions, however, when it comes to contributing your own knowledge to the subject, now that is a different ball game. It is very easy to become a brain surgeon, there are thousands. But there is only one in a million surgeons who will discover a new or better way to do a brain operation. Now that is what a writer is in literature. You have to break new ground, you cannot hide behind stuff you read, you are now naked, and your only salvation is to break free from the bunch of mediocrity and tear open a new door in that subject,,,,, a door so that others may then walk through it. That is why I always say, that Shakespeare, was as much a prophet of English literature, than a mere playwright. To answer your question in a line, class is always a very rare commodity, just like you my little Fluffy. Also the world has too many boring farts as you will always find out. Always keep a sharp eye to mine and cherry pick the cream. Tell me can I still adopt you?

[msc545]

Nobody said it had to be a good novel.