🌟 General 🌟
This is an ongoing creative writing club for teens who love to write. It's for learners who are working on their own creative writing projects and for those who want to write a new story or entry each week. In each lesson, I provide two prompts, one for each type of creative writer.

We will: 
✅ get inspired by other like-minded creative writers
✅ learn writing tips & strategies
✅ write for 30 minutes, using a prompt or working on personal projects
✅ receive & provide positive feedback on our writing (sharing optional)

🌟 Class structure 🌟
✅  Introductions: Each class, we will open with a tip about writing or something related to writing (see weekly breakdown below)

✅ Writing time: Next, students will write for 30 minutes. I provide 2 prompts for students to choose from each week. One is geared towards those students who already have a writing project, while the other prompts students to write a new story or about a topic. Each week, students can work on their own writing projects, or try something new.

✅  Feedback & Wrap Up: Finally, we will take the last 15 minutes to voluntarily share out what we’ve written. Students can also use the time to talk about their writing process and ask for advice. Students will be expected to listen attentively to their peers and provide thoughtful feedback.

📣 Sharing our writing can be very scary, so rest assured this is a safe environment for students. I set the expectations of the group as such and enforce them when necessary.

🌟 Weekly Breakdown 🌟 
🍁 Fall Semester:
1. September 5 - September 11: Genres    
2. September 12 - September 18: Planning Stories
3. September 19 - September 25:Choosing Characters
4. September 26 - October 2: Protagonists

5. October 3 - October 9: Antagonists
[🍂October 10 - October 16**NO CLASSES]
7. October 17 - October 23: Minor Characters
8. October 24 - October 30: Developing Characters 
9. October 31 - November 6: Character Backstories

10. November 7 - November 13: Describing characters
November 14 - November 20: Characters & Dialogue
[🦃 November 21 - November 27 Thanksgiving Break **NO CLASSES]
11. November 28 - December 4: Narrators

12. December 5 - December 11: Choosing a Setting
13. December 12 - December 18: TBD/REVIEW
14. December 19 - December 25: TBD/REVIEW

[☃️ December 19 - January 1: Winter Break **NO CLASSES]

🌸 Spring Semester 2023
13. January 2 - January 8: Show v. Tell
14. January 9 - January 15: Descriptive language
15. January 16 - January 22: Imagery
16. January 23 - January 29: Figurative language Part I
17. January 30 - February 5:Figurative language Part II
18. February 6 - February 12: Figurative language Part III
19. February 13 - February 19: Grammar for creative writing - varying sentences
20. February 20 - February 26: Plot
21. February 27 - March 5: Setting the Scene
22. March 6 - March 12: Point of View
23. March 13 - March 19: Exposition
24. March 20 - March 26: Controlling Ideas
25. March 27 - April 2: Tension
26. April 3 - April 9: Stakes
27. April 10 - April 16: Conflict
28. April 17 - April 23: Climax
29. April 24 - April 30: Falling Action
30. May 1 - May 7: Resolution
31. May 8 - May 14: Symbols & Motifs
32. May 15 - May 21: Themes
33. May 22 - May 28: Openers
34. May 29 - June 4: Pacing
35. June 5 - June 11: Dialogue
36. June 12 - June 18: Characters Archetypes
37. June 19 - June 25: Endings

🌟 Sample Weekly Prompts 🌟
✏️ Pick one event from your character's past that has had the most impact on them – write about it in detail. 

✏️ Write a story with the following setting: It's twilight. There's a strong wind blowing. You're in a city neighborhood.
There's a peaceful feel to the place.

✏️ Are you a giver or a receiver? Write about a generous act (real or imagined) and the impact it had on the giver or the beneficiary.

🌟 Teaching Methods 🌟
This class is intentionally light on structure or prescribed direction. There is no direct instruction beyond the writing tip presented at the beginning of class. Through this method, I aim to provide students with the space needed to reflect on themselves as writers, work through issues they face as writers, such as writer’s block and self-doubt, and most importantly, to write in their own voices. 

🌟 Interaction 🌟
Students will be able to share their work and get feedback on it from their peers.

🌟 Prior Knowledge 🌟
This class requires no prior knowledge. However, it is best for students who are passionate about creative writing.

🌟 About the Teacher 🌟
Meg Connolly is a certified teacher with bachelors degrees in literature and philosophy. She has masters degrees in teaching ELA, grades 7-12, and in teaching students with disabilities. In addition to her masters, she is TESOL certified and experienced in working with ESL students. She has nine years of teaching experience both in the US public school system and online. She also writes her own fictional short stories for podcasts. Check out her teacher profile for more info.

🌟 Meet and Greet 🌟
If you or your learner are hesitant to sign up before meeting me (understandably!), feel free to book a meet and greet here: https://outschool.com/classes/meet-greet-15-minute-session-MGpwi3mP#usXSuDFS3Z