It's their novel idea

Karah Kemmerly talked about her poem "physics" in a classroom with posters that include images of John Belushi, the Beatles and Bob Marley — as well as examples of "indefinite pronouns."

Karah, a 17-year-old senior at Marysville High School, starts with science in her 15-line poem and moves on to other matters.

"Condense the world into variable form," she writes, followed by an equation for energy conversion.

The school's Creative Writing Club, revived after a few dormant years, is meeting to discuss its members' work.

"I love this poem," English teacher and club adviser Gina Cameron said of "physics."

Cameron, who was a creative writing major at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is impressed by student interest in the written word.

About 20 have joined the club and meet in the classroom whose posters seem to hold little meaning for a new generation. Belushi's image from the 1978 movie "Animal House" and some once-prominent rock bands are now mostly unknown to high school students, Cameron noted.

But their interest in writing is clear, the English teacher added.

"It gives me hope that art isn't dead," she said.

Relationships and identity are common themes of work by students in the club, Cameron said. Writing has been the club's focus, although other issues, such as a budget, are under discussion.

Money and art are seen as strangers to each other, Cameron noted.

"Everyone knows by now that you need something else," the teacher said of artists often having to have a way to earn funds separate from writing and related efforts. "I knew I couldn't survive on just art."

Cameron said writers aren't always disposed to joining organizations and cited Groucho Mark's adage that he wouldn't join any club that would have him as a member.

"I agree with that," she said, although she makes an exception for the Creative Writing Club.

Student Karah connects her commitment to creative writing to a leadership training program for youths. Speakers at the June event, by the service club Rotary, urged students to pursue what they want to do.

"I was worried that by writing, I wasn't really giving myself any kind of stable occupation," Karah said.

But Karah, who once considered a career in science, said she'd like to be a novelist some day.

Creative Writing Club member Ian Crane, 16, who had thought about becoming an attorney but is now more interested in photography, also attended the Rotary program.

Ian and Karah both like writer Chuck Palahniuk, whose books include "Fight Club," which was made into the 1999 movie.

Technology and blogs have changed communications, the two students said.

"It's easier to share your opinion," Ian said.

"Everyone can be a writer," Karah offered. "Everyone can have a blog."

Not that they think writing is easy.

Ian talked about hours writing and deleting — and writing and deleting.

"Sometimes," Karah added, "you sit and stare at a screen and nothing happens."

Both are taking Cameron's class at Marysville High on British Literature.

"She's an amazing teacher," Ian said. Karah praised Cameron as easy to talk with and giving "feedback on everything."

Contact Appeal reporter Ryan McCarthy at 749-4707 or rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com.