Creative Writing: Intro to Storytelling

Join us in learning the fundamentals of creative thinking and story creation in this 4 week course! By the end, students should be comfortable planning, writing, and analyzing their own original stories from scratch.

The basic format is that students will begin each session with a brain warmup, then learn some of the lesson, and end by working on their own original writing

Specifically, students will learn:

- brain warmup games to overcome writer's block, think outside the box, and express ideas (especially helpful for reluctant students)

Week 1: 
- character creation using the Pixar method (Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Brave) 
- students brainstorm the main characters for their short stories and place them in a unique setting

Week 2:
- plot archetypes (rags to riches, comedy, tragedy, the hero's journey, etc.) through the lens of the students' favorite stories
- how to create basic outlines of their own original story's plot and characters

Week 3:
- elements of setting: time, place, and culture

Week 4:
- themes like love, courage, and loyalty that tie to human emotions and morality
- students share the original stories they've written with their peers and suggest creative changes to each other

Finally, I recommend checking out my Teacher Profile, especially my Teaching Philosophy section, to make sure this is a fit for your student.  

I also offer this as a Self-Paced Class, if your student prefers that method of instruction: https://outschool.com/classes/creative-writing-intro-to-storytelling-XsRcyDa9#usu529M6QA

This class is also perfect for Saysa (Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award) participants. 

See you in class!

Class photo by Nong Vang on Unsplash