If I were teaching creative writing, I’d start each semester with a unit on haiku. They are easy to grade, right? Just count syllables and deduct a point for every syllable over or under seventeen?
Well, not exactly. They’re harder to write than most people think, but they’re short and don’t rhyme, so there is a limit to how bad they can get. Most important: they teach word economy, something that few new writers appreciate. Tight writing is better writing.
jguentherauthor 