Creative Writing: Christmas Ghost Stories
Embrace your inner Dickens and write a ghost story perfect for sharing around the winter fire.
Drea Lee
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(144)
What's included
4 live meetings
4 in-class hoursProjects
1-2 hours per week. Writers will have some time to write in class but should expect to complete a good portion of the drafting process on their own time.Grading
Writers will be encouraged to share excerpts of their work in progress as well as their completed story at the end of class. This is recommended and will allow the instructor and other writers to give feedback.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 9
Beginner - Advanced Level
Let’s resurrect the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas by crafting our own spooky tales. We will look at what makes classic ghost stories scary, dig into what it says about human nature, and use that to inspire our work. Writers participating in this workshop will plan and write their own ghost stories just in time for the winter holidays. In this writing workshop, we will explore... … how to find inspiration for your story. … how to structure a ghost story for maximum tension. … how to use the elements of fiction to enhance your storytelling. … how to use tone to set the mood of the story. This class is appropriate for writers of all skill levels. A detailed structure will be provided for writers to plan their stories. Writers will be encouraged to share excerpts of their work in progress as well as their completed story at the end of class. Important: We will be writing in the style of classic ghost stories like A Christmas Carol, The Turn of the Screw, and The Woman in Black. The tone we are going for is spooky, not gory. If you already have a story idea and don’t know if it meets these requirements please message me before enrolling in this class. Class Structure: This class will be a mix of short lectures on craft, discussions, structured story plotting, and writing time. Session Schedule Class 1- Finding inspiration and uncovering your “ghost” Class 2 - Capturing the classic ghost story structure Class 3 - Using tone and setting to set the (winter) mood Class 4 - Capturing the theme of your story
Learning Goals
Writers will explore what makes a ghost story scary and practice using the elements of fiction in their own work. By the end of the class, my hope is they will have a finished short story draft (or be well on their way to it!).
Other Details
Parental Guidance
I cannot predict what writers will share in class. Horror and horror-adjacent writing can trigger strong emotions within young writers.
Supply List
All materials for this class will be provided. Students should have access to word-processing software such as Google docs or Microsoft Word for drafting their stories.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University
Bachelor's Degree in English from California State University San Marcos
Good morrow to my fellow actors, writers, and literary scholars! I'm Ms. Drea (she/her) aka "Director of Chaos" and I'm obsessed with literary and performing arts! They are my absolute passions and I love to share them with everyone I meet.
My classrooms are inclusive and all learners are welcome. I do my best to foster spaces where everyone present feels like they belong. An atmosphere of kindness and respect is what I strive for every day. I am more interested in building relationships with learner than having a schedule full of packed classes. Because of this philosophy, I focus mostly on multi-week and ongoing classes, so I can get to know the young people I'm working with on a personal level.
I know it can be a little nerve-wracking to try a new class with a new teacher. Will we get along? Will you enjoy the experience? Because of that I always offer new learners interested in trying a class a code for $20 off your first class. Use the code LEETRY20 if you want to give it a chance!
Experience: I've been teaching middle school and high school students to fall in love with words on the stage and on the page since 2009. I've taught in private and public schools as well as with youth theatre organizations and literary nonprofits. I've directed numerous youth theatre productions and have loved every minute of it. I'm currently the Programs Director for a literary nonprofit where I have run the youth fiction contest since 2017.
My education: Degrees don't mean everything, but I happen to really love learning in a collegiate environment and majored in things I am passionate about. I have a bachelor's degree in literature and writing from California State University, San Marcos, and a master's in Educational Technology. I completed courses in young adult novel writing through Arizona State University's Your Novel Year Program. All of my theatre experience is lived, through many years of acting, directing, and participating in the theatre arts community.
My teaching philosophy: I teach with growth-based learning in mind. I want students to reflect on their learning process and use those reflective elements to guide instruction as well as inform my analysis of their growth. I love giving students choices and flexibility in their projects, with options to explore things that drive their curiosity. All learning is conversation and I don't position myself as an expert, but instead, as a life-long learner exploring with other curious people.Reviews
Live Group Class
$26
weekly or $52 for 4 classes2x per week, 2 weeks
60 min
Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
5-10 learners per class
