Creative Writing students in Paulette Topel’s class at Saint Peter High School had a special guest during class on Wednesday as Mankato-based writer and musician Nate Boots dropped by to talk about songwriting and the creative process behind it.
"At the start of the year, many of the students indicated (through a survey) that they were interested in learning more about songwriting,” Topel said. “I don't have a lot of experience with that, and I try to get at least one guest author in to talk to the class every semester, so I thought I'd see if I could find someone. So, I went to the MN Original Music Festival's website and learned that Nate Boots gave a workshop on songwriting, so I just emailed him, introduced myself, and he was gracious enough to say yes!
“The class really loved it and loved him. It's so nice for them to be able to hear a true professional talk about their process and experience. I didn't know that he is an English teacher, and that made it all that much better–he knows how to teach and how to talk to teenagers.”
The students are at the tail end of their poetry unit, according to Topel, and much of what Boots taught the kids about songwriting was really similar to what she had been teaching them about poetry, so his visit with her students was timed perfectly.
“He is super talented and we are so appreciative of the time he took to spend with us,” Topel said. “It was a really fun, inspirational day!”
Above and below are some photo highlights from Nate Boots' visit with the Ms. Topel's creative writing students!
