This popular ongoing safe space is a writing club and is designed for learners who are currently into creative writing and storytelling. Each class offers a wide variety of choices from poetry to fiction. Anyone may join, but this class is recommended for girls. It's a great fit for three types of learners: 

✔️ the learner who is a solid writer and needs to be creatively challenged

✔️ the learner who is a storyteller but may lack confidence because of grammar, spelling mistakes, or other reasons

✔️ the learner who just wants a place to hang out, have fun with writing, and bond with others

Members interact socially, learn to think outside the box with flexible thinking writing activities, build personal confidence, and bond with others who also enjoy creating fictional stories while practicing positive peer interaction. The best way I can describe it is a session of non-stop smiling.

WHY I CREATED THE SISTERHOOD
Unlike traditional writing, which focuses heavily on spelling and grammar, this group focuses on the joy of writing, emphasizes content, and encourages creativity - an area I was not able to address as a former public school teacher prepping kids for state assessments. 

No one sees a learner’s paper (or document) and I teach writers to overcome the pressures of correctness so they can access creativity and develop plot line. After all, grammar and spelling can be addressed at a later stage and what’s the point of perfect spelling and grammar if you don’t have solid story content? The best part? When kids love creative writing and develop a knack for it, they naturally become better writers in general and experience less dread when it’s time for essays.

CLASS AGENDA
✔️ Each class starts with a lighthearted “chatbreaker” (a popular icebreaker activity in the chat box). This activity allows the learners to bond with each other and bond with me which creates a space where they feel comfortable sharing. The chat continues to roll during class with members' ideas and comments. 

✔️ We follow up with unique, creative flexible thinking writing opportunities, and learners may voluntarily share their flexible thinking with the group.

✔️ At the end of the session, writers are allowed to share something with the group if they choose during “share & tell.” This portion often happens at the very end, and I stick around so they can finish interacting with the group. 

✔️ The class is officially over at the 45 minute mark, but I usually stay an extra 10 as a courtesy so that they can bond. Staying longer is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. I just do this because so many of them love it. 

SAMPLE TOPICS
I do not reveal my creative topics prior to class so that learners are excited about them and can practice thinking on the spot, but here is an example of a recent session. Learners may pick one of the suggested topics or write a story of their own:

1. The plane you've boarded gets caught in a violent storm and goes down. You crash in a remote area, and miraculously, it appears that everyone has survived. According to GPS, you are in Oklahoma. But when you encounter the locals—both humanoid and otherwise—you know that you are in a "lost world." Begin your story.

2. You and your friend witness something you shouldn’t have and make a pact to take it to the grave. Unfold your story. Get into character, so tell it using “I.” Try using dialogue.

ONGOING CLASS STRUCTURE
✔️  Learners may enroll at anytime because sessions do not build on one another
✔️  conveniently auto-drafted each week and subscription can be easily stopped at any time on the Outschool page

CAMERAS ON SAFE SPACE
Learners are required to have working cameras in the “on” position for the duration of class. Class is SAFER and more engaging. Please make sure your learner arrives with camera on. Black screens do not promote trust in a group.

TEACHER EXPERTISE
✔️  certified English teacher with 30 years of teaching experience
✔️  published freelance writer with poetry and narratives appearing in Coping with Cancer, Sasee Magazine and the international bestselling books, Chicken Soup for the Soul.  

TEACHING STYLE
✔️  I’m friendly
✔️  My #1 priority is creating a safe, enjoyable space
✔️  It’s important to me to give you a quality, fun experience every time

PAUSING
Please note that pausing a subscription does not guarantee a seat upon return. I do like to be transparent about this since the seats in my popular classes disappear quickly as soon as they are let go each week.

ABOUT ME
✔️  I'm an animal lover with two crazy rescue dogs, Maxie and Calhoun, and one really spoiled rotten rescue cat, Scratchy. Update: Scratchy recently passed after a well-led life. She is missed.

✔️  I got married on top of Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska, on the television show, Say Yes to the Dress - season 16: episode 2.

✔️  I'm a 2-time cancer survivor - and that's why I make it a point to make the most of EVERY day.

✔️  Speaking of making the most of every day, I just moved from Texas to Alaska!

✔️  In 2005, the legendary Dolly Parton signed my guitar backstage in Dallas, Texas.