Let's Grow a Story!

Creative writing can be compared to planting a beautiful garden. In this 6-session class, students will use the story "seeds:" character, setting, conflict/climax and resolution, to "grow" their own creative "short story garden".  In our final session, we will discuss and reflect on the challenges and rewards involved in creating our own stories. We will also review useful writing strategies to encourage students to continue their writing endeavor on their own.

In Session 1, we will plant the "character seed."  Students will explore and develop one or more characters that we will put to work in our final stories.  

In Session 2, we will plant the "setting seed."  Students will be encouraged to let their imaginations discover and design the setting or settings for their stories. 

In Session 3, we will plant the "conflict/climax seeds" through which our characters must travel. 

In Session 4, we will plant the "resolution seed" as students decide how their characters will solve or resolve the chosen conflict and climax. 

In Session 5, we will plant and water all the seeds in our "short story garden," to admire the harvest beauty as we read our final story aloud. 

We will use Session 6 for review of material learned, as well as a "buffer time," as students frequently spend more than one session working on certain of the various elements.

Please note that because this class meets on numerous and various days, it is expected that students may have one or more schedule conflicts.  If this is the case with your family, please feel free to message me and we will work together to create a make-up session or sessions to fit your family's schedule. :-)

Working one on one through a relaxed, fun and open discussion format, students will have plenty of time to gather "idea seeds" as they explore their own imaginations.  Together we will learn, review and apply the "seeds" of the short story to create our final "Short Story Garden."  Students need not possess prior knowledge of story elements (or gardening!) to learn from and enjoy this class. BUT, the success of any final story will depend on student efforts between meetings. Students will be asked to keep idea notes during class and to complete minimal, but crucial, rewriting of these class notes in between sessions. This, in order to really get to know and understand their characters. Rewriting, or editing, is also a great way to practice and play with various writing techniques in order to bring out the "hidden writer" in all of us. Students will be encouraged to share these notes with me via the classroom messaging for teacher editing and suggestion purposes. Although I will offer my professional opinions, and assist with rewrites, I am acting as a guide through the writing process. Ultimately, in creative writing, the author has the final say, and in this class, your child is the author!  I look forward to meeting your child in the "Short Story Garden."