Write On! Creative Story Writing - Ongoing (Ages 13-17)

Writing. Just the mere mention can send waves of fear through a student. The reason? Confusion over how to actually write a creative story piece.
This course will cover the basics of how to plan the skeleton of an story, how to develop characters, plotline, setting and enhance the story with various techniques. I will work with the students on individual levels through each step of the writing process. For students who have different learning styles or difficulties, I will try to gear the process to their own mode of learning.
The following outline (below) is what will be covered when your child enters the classroom. Students will work on their stories with regular one-on-one individualized guidance.

*Please note that this class allows students time to work at their own pace. I give students time to write, then when they have enough material that they are comfortable with sharing, I go through their writing with them on a one-on-one basis to make suggestions: content, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage. As such, it does not follow a typical, rigid schedule. The schedule below shows what is covered. 

Week 1 

Day 1: Plotline, characters, setting
- importance of an outline!
- students given time to come up with a general outline for their story, including characters, setting, problem and story progression 
- types of characters: round, flat, static, dynamic -- describing personalities over appearance, unless appearance important to plotline
- setting: different types and how they affect the story
- story problem, plotline
- students given time to create detailed outline

Day 2: (when students feel they are ready to share outline)
- go over students' outlines on individual basis to look at ways to improve
- for plotline, now make each scene more detailed so are ready to write story
- Starting a story: what is ineffective? What works?
- Description: importance of describing as action progresses
- Stretching out a scene: what does this mean?

 What makes a good story? 
- proper description
- action
- dialogue
- character development
- interesting plotline
- stretching out scenes
- setting and creating quality mood

Week 2 (tentative, continuation of Week 1)

- Creating characters that are effective & realistic: dynamic and round
- Hinting at characters' traits while action progresses -- why is this important?
- organization of story details: don't go off on a tangent!
- adding more detail to make story realistic and engage your reader

- Ending a story: what should you never do? What works?

Students may stay in the class for as long as they require to finish their stories to their satisfaction