Inklings 2.0: Story & Novel Writing Club for Teens
Learning from the greats is one of the best ways to improve our writing; and in this supportive, weekly club, we will explore great aurthors of fantasy/fiction, as well as work on our own creative writing projects.
Candice Catoire
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(83)
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
Learning from the greats is one of the best ways to improve a skill. This class will explore great works of literature, great authors, and techniques, while we also work to improve our own writing projects. Each week, we will discuss a different author/authors, a work of fiction, or techniques (or a combination thereof). Then we will have a prompt and writing time/sharing time. As a published author myself, I believe we learn best when learning from each other. The purpose of this class is to help students improve their writing, while also having fun with literature, just like the Inklings did at Oxford in the 1930s and 40s. The Inklings believed in the importance of fantasy in fiction, as well as gathering to sharpen each others' minds and writing.Thus, this class is focused on fiction/fantasy writing/authors and discussion. The structure of the class will be: ***1-5 minutes for introducing [new] students and their projects ***15-20 minutes for discussion of that week's author(s), work, or topic ***15-20 minutes of writing activity time ***5-10 minutes of sharing and feedback ***1-5 minutes for question and answers This is a drop-in weekly club; and while students can take it every week if they choose, they can also come in at any time and not be lost or left behind. Each week, we will review some great authors and works of fantasy/fiction, or different aspects of the writing process. We will discuss where they got their ideas, what their writing process was, and the features of their writing. We will look at their fantasy worlds and their characterizations. We will look at any retellings that may have happened over the years (books, graphic novels, movies, etc). We will find out what we can learn from them to improve our writing. After a writing activity, we will share projects we are working on. This will give students a chance to offer feedback, and hear from others. Authors I have chosen to cover are (in no particular order): *** C.S. Lewis (fiction work) *** Madeleine L'Engle *** J.R.R. Tolkien *** Lewis Carroll *** J.M. Barrie *** Hans Christian Anderson *** Brothers Grimm *** Christopher Paolini *** A.A. Milne *** Mary Shelly *** Jane Austen *** Brontë Sisters *** Agatha Christie *** Mark Twain *** Edgar Allen Poe *** Suzanne Collins & Veronica Roth *** Ray Bradbury & Ayn Rand *** Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy *** Eoin Colfer *** Rick Riordan *** Ancient writings and myths *I am open to hearing from students if they'd like to discuss another author not listed, and would consider adding them to the rotation.
Learning Goals
Students will improve their creative writing skill by exploring famous works, and authors' processes, as well as by sharing and critiquing their own work.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
While I do not plan on focusing on any mature material - this is a creative writing class. Some of the authors' works will have some mature content (ie war, death, violence, dystopian atmospheres, mystery, etc). As such, we will discuss different kinds of literature, different literary stories, different characters, and student stories. I do tailor some of my responses to the students' interests. The stories discussed may include: violence, death, and mystery. None of these issues will be the focus, but they may show up in the class. If you have a learner on the younger range of the class, and have more questions, please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
Supply List
Notebook (paper) & writing implement are needed for the writing activity portion of the class.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined November, 2019
4.8
83reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
While I am a retired marriage & family therapist, I am also an author, blogger, and editor. I have over 10 years experience to gain experience and connections in the field of writing and publishing. My works include fiction and non fiction. I have such a huge passion for writing, reading, and story in general. Reviews
Live Group Class
$16
weekly1x per week
50 min
Completed by 47 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-6 learners per class
