There's nothing more fun than expressing yourself through creative writing!  Each week, students will begin class with a creative writing exercise and finish with writing by applying what they've learned. We will cover different elements of fiction and non-fiction writing. Students will get to take their own unique ideas and write stories.  Students will be encouraged to work on their stories outside of class and submit them for personal feedback.


Week 1:
Writing warm-up
Genres and Tropes
What are the different sub-genres of fiction?
What are tropes and are they bad?
Discuss the six types of conflict (man versus man, man versus self, etc...)
Discuss how all story plots can be simplified down to these different conflicts
Writing activity: Choose a genre, trope, and conflict and start brainstorming story ideas

Week 2:
Writing warm-up
Why is the setting so important?
Discuss good descriptive words
Creating a unique setting for your story
Importance of creating character/world history
Start brainstorming about characters
Writing activity: Work on the back story/setting and start brainstorming character ideas

Week 3:
Writing warm-up
Different types of characters - Protagonist, antagonist, foil, dynamic, static, round, flat
Look at different kinds of "stock" characters 
How to use evolve those characters into deeper, round characters
Tips for making realistic characters
Writing activity: Start working on creating the characters for your story

Week 4:
Writing warm-up
Constructing families for characters
Personality types, birth order, careers, and other ways to make characters believable
Verbal and non-verbal communication
Plot diagram
Writing activity: Start working on a plot diagram and timeline of events for your story

Week 5:
Writing warm-up
Types of scenes
How to start and finish the first scene
How to add details to your writing
Writing activity: Start writing the story

Week 6:
Writing warm-up
Important literary devices - flashback, foreshadowing, irony, suspense
Creating a suspense and flashback scene
Writing activity: Work on creating a suspense or flashback scene for your story