Every Monday or Tuesday during community time, Caleb Hudson ’28 and Mr. Hauser host a meeting for the Novelist Club in B204. It’s a club where students can use the freedom of their imagination and apply it to novels and other forms of creative writing.
What Is the Novelist Club?
During meetings, Mr. Hauser and students learn and practice writing literature. On learning days, club members read literature done by outside authors and go over key themes of the piece to help better understand how to write a story. On practice days, club members get to apply these concepts by writing short stories during community time. Additionally, once a month, members get to present their story to the club, and the club members can critique it so the member who presented the piece can learn and become better.
On October 28, 2025, I was able to attend one meeting where we as a club went over some of the members’ 100-word short stories. Mr. Hauser and other club members helped provide constructive, literary feedback including dialogue, imagery, phrases, abstract language, and other literary elements. Mr. Hauser uses his expertise of writing to give quality advice to the authors to help them create a literary masterpiece.
Interview with Caleb and Mr. Hauser
I had the opportunity to do an interview with Caleb and Mr. Hauser about the club and creative writing overall. Here is what went down:
Q (To Caleb): How did you get the idea of the Novelist Club?
A: “It stemmed from my love of writing when I was back in elementary school. I have been writing a novel since 2020 and since then my love for writing has grown and I wanted to bring that same level of love and talent to the school. I wanted to offer Jesuit a set of skills that people could develop.”
Q (To Hauser): How does this club inspire you as a teacher?
A: “It inspires me on a personal level. When I was an English major for undergrad at Kansas, I took the creative writing path, so it has kind of reawakened in me a very personal, private love of trying to write creatively. With this club starting, I’m starting to write again for myself and I’m hoping to maybe share a short story to Word of Fire.”
Q (To Caleb): What does the success of the club mean to you?
A: “The success of the club has just meant a ton to me. It shows the level of commitment people have already put into it early on. This is the first year and we already have around 20-30 members. It is a level of commitment I wanted to see. It goes to show how much faith people put into the club and I am really happy for that.”
Q (To Hauser): What do you have to say to people who are scared to show a piece because it might be corny or against some people’s views?
A: “From the start of the club, I have always abided by this one rule that was given to me by a creative writing professor that the first rule in any sort of critiquing circle is always praise and seeing the good or seeing the instinct at the attempt of creative writing. We all have certain gifts that God has given [us] and we should try to hone those. Additionally, all of us at different levels have a certain tuition. So, we always want to praise that first. Before we critique, we have to give double the [number] of compliments. I think [the rule] has fostered openness and trust and a little more vulnerability in an authentic way.”
Conclusion
Overall, the Novelist Club is a great way to be able to enter your own imagination without having a fear of being judged by others. After all, everyone in the club is seeking to become the best they can and with the system Mr. Hauser and Caleb have in place, the Novelist Club excels at that goal. If you want to join, it is B204 every week on Tuesday or Monday if there is a prayer service that week.
