Creative Writing Summer Camp by Children's Book Author : Share Your Passion

😊The Who…..

*I am the author of over 25 chapter books for children, having sold over 40000 books, and a former teacher. I talk to students in school author visits about my writing and the writing process and help to foster their own creativity. I have tutored many students who have written wonderful stories but needed help getting from point A to point B. 

😊The What…..

*Each session I will help foster creative thought and help to organize story development. I have story spark activities the students will use to practice creative thought using the main parts of a story: main idea development, setting, characters, and plot. We will focus on each of these points, sometimes one per class, and sometimes in totality. We will also discuss story genre and exciting story beginnings. This is a CREATIVE writing class, not a formal essay class and not a grammar class.

This will be an interactive class with encouragement and fun! Students will begin a new story by the end of the week, using the information we have learned in class. ✍️The story might not be finished as I don't believe in putting a timeline to creative thoughts. ⏰However, students will be introduced to the elements that make a great story and have an opportunity to organize their thoughts for a story.  Students will begin organizing original story ideas from day 1 that will become more organized by day 3.

😊The When…..

Day 1: Introductions, Main Story Elements, Free Writing From Picture Prompts as a Warm Up
Day 2: Story Setting (Discussions of Genre) and Story Characters, Start Planning Characters and Setting For Own Story
Day 3: Story Starters, Choosing a Main Idea and Mapping Out a Story/Begin Writing the Story While Learning How to Plan for the End (which is often ignored by young writers)
Day 4: Continue Writing/Sharing of Story Started/Offering Suggestions for Students from Peers and the Teacher (I PASS rule is honored.)

📢Your child must be able to quietly write for 15-20 minutes. Days 3 and 4 they may write longer. I conference with students via quiet conversations and also through chat where I ask and answer questions. Each child's story is unique, but I believe hearing my conversations with others will be helpful in hearing how different story plans come together. I ask lots of "small" AND "big" picture questions when a student is planning a story.
📢This class can certainly be a great way to encourage reluctant writers, but serious writers will be comfortable here as well. Regardless of their interest in writing, the students will be provided with a lot of information about writing in a short amount of time and given opportunities to put those skills to work during class. 

😊The Why…..

I stress the importance of revisions and inspire the students with my own struggles to be published. The importance of following your passion with hard work, no matter what you pursue, is an important life lesson. 

I have worked with many students to improve creative writing stories. I love seeing their eyes light up with enthusiasm. I truly am a real author with LOTS of experience with what works and what does not. I hope to help my students find joy in writing while learning to build an original story using lessons learned during class. 

😊And HOW is this even better than all of that? ⬆️⬆️ 😊

Students will be invited to send up to ten pages of their story to me within two weeks AFTER class has ended, and I will offer comments, suggestions, and praise! I hope they will be inspired to keep writing after class!

Students will also be given printable story organizers, character sketches, and world building sheets.