Creative Writing Club (Live)
In this ongoing club, students will get to practice their creative writing skills by writing a flash fiction piece, followed by a writing workshop where we read each other's pieces and talk about writing techniques together.
New on Outschool
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekProjects
1 hour per week. Students will receive a writing prompt prior to each class meeting. They are not required to work on them ahead of time since we will have time to write together in class, but if they want to do outside work they are free to do so.Progress Report
I am happy to provide reports and advice on each student's progress in their writing skills as desired.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
In this ongoing club, students will get to respond to a new writing prompt each week to create their own flash fiction story (or occasionally, their own poem). I will release the prompt to students around two days before each class, but they will receive some time during class each week to actually write their stories together. As such, outside work is optional. After writing together, we will have a writing workshop where students read and respond to each other's work. Students will be instructed on how to be diligent, helpful, and compassionate critique partners during writing workshops.
Learning Goals
Students will hone their own writing skills, practice actively participating in group discussions, and gain a better cultural and analytical understanding of their world.Students will come away having learned numerous techniques to use in the writing process and applied these techniques to writing their own stories and poems.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Prompts will be derived from a number of genres, including literary, fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, thriller, and science fiction, as well as poetry. All prompts will be age-appropriate.
Please note that other students' work may explore a variety of potentially difficult topics, ideas, and events from divergent perspectives. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to determine whether this is an appropriate activity for their child. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
The following books are my favorite sources for writing advice and techniques:
Bell, Matt. Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts. New York: Soho Press, 2022.
Bradbury, Ray. Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius within You. New York: Bantam Books, 1992.
Card, Orson Scott. Characters and Viewpoint. New York: Penguin Books, 1988.
King, Stephen. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. New York: Scribner, 2020.
Joined June, 2024
New on Outschool
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Illinois Wesleyan University
I have a BA in Philosophy with minors in Political Science and Greek and Roman Studies, as well as an MA in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and Political Philosophy. I’m the head coach of a competitive high school debate team and teach the liberal arts at a classical school. I’m also a professional creative writer and journalist.
I love helping students of all ages understand and interpret difficult subjects and learn how to crystallize their thoughts in writing and oral communication. I believe studying the written word is a wonderful way to facilitate this kind of growth and learning.Reviews
Live Group Class
$20
weekly1x per week
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
1-18 learners per class
