Story is about eternal, universal forms, not formulas.
Writing is a marathon, not a sprint.
To connect to people at the deepest level, you need stories.
The students realize that it's their life I'm talking about: it's out of balance, they're struggling to put it into balance. How are they going to do it?
Talent without craft is like fuel without an engine, it burns wildly but accomplishes nothing.
Don't be didactic - don't write about poverty. Write about poor people. When you dramatize their lives and let life and characters be your inspiration, you will express the 'idea' dynamically and without preaching.