SYNOPSIS:
This course is only open to current members of The Sisterhood: Creative Writing and Social Club. It meets once a week for 8 weeks. Learners will make progress on a chapter book and work on novel skills. Because writing a book requires commitment, learners should already exhibit a love for writing and write regularly either in another class, on their own, or both. Each session with the group will involve at least one (but often more) of the following: a mini-lesson, an excerpt reading, and/or in-class writing time. Writers will also write between our scheduled meetings in order to complete their chapters. 

Note:
This course will not address grammar as the 8 weeks is the generation of their "big idea" and first draft. Editing and revising is an after-process that professional writers go through once they finish their manuscript. This course is designed to produce a rough draft of multiple chapters in each child's book. 

It’s important to understand two things before embarking on this journey:

1. A "book" shouldn't be associated with an astronomical number of pages. 

2. Each learner may be in a different place at the end of the course - partially or fully complete. Every writer is different. 

I am a certified English teacher with 3 decades of experience, specifically preparing Texas students for the 7th grade writing assessment. I'm also a published writer with stories and/or poems appearing in the international best-selling books, Chicken Soup for the Soul; Sasee Magazine; and Coping with Cancer. Additionally, I have also worked as a marketing freelancer producing web content, social media materials, and a host of other professional writing.

MATERIALS:
Learners will need to write their manuscripts in a Google doc. In order to view them during class, they will provide the link. They do not need to "share" the document as there is a setting where anyone with the link may view, and I will help them set up those permissions during our first session. They will need permission for a Google account or permission to borrow a parent/guardian account. 

Learners will bring their story ideas to our first class - basic plot and character descriptions. I will send out information prior to the first meeting so that learners understand what they will need to complete upon arrival and how to complete it. 

SYLLABUS:
See Syllabus section for breakdown of weeks 1-8
Please note: Weekly topics are subject to change based on the progress of the class