This fall, in addition to our regular virtual and in-person creative writing classes, Centauri Arts will be adding two new courses: a Junior Creative Writing class for ages 9-14, and a Short Fiction course for more experienced writers. But what happens in our creative writing courses? As creative writing classes become more popular among young people, this is a question many parents – and young writers – may have.
Read about our Creative Writing Classes here.
A Typical Creative Writing Workshop:
Most of our writing classes begin with a ‘free write’. This is a 15-minute writing prompt designed to whet our creative juices and help settle us all into our writing.
Example: our writers receive an image of a backpacker, boarding a plane. They are asked to imagine where they are heading, and why. Everyone writes without stopping, allowing their thoughts to flow freely. Sometimes, our imagination takes us where we least expect!
The free write leads into a discussion, and the instructor will often introduce a technique. For example, a free write like the one above might lead to an examination of backstory, or subtext.
At this point, the instructor will announce the theme for the workshop. Let’s imagine today’s theme is: Beginnings. Here is a sample class:
Our young writers divide into groups. Each group receives a handout with the opening paragraphs of 3 different novels. Together they discuss what each opening paragraph signals about the novel.
The class comes together to respond to the question: what should the beginning paragraphs of a novel achieve?
Each writer generates first-sentences of novels on index cards which are shuffled, and given out again. Using the opening sentence they receive, and the techniques just discussed, creative writing students write the first few paragraphs of a novel.
Writers share their pieces with one another, if they wish. They imagine what the rest of each novel would look like, based on the opening paragraphs.
Students return to the image of the backpacker. Either working from their original free write, or beginning afresh, our young writers use the image to write the opening page of what could be a novel. Alternate images are always available, if the first one fails to inspire!
Often, our writing classes end with an extended period of writing – 20-30 minutes – during which the instructor works individually with writers, helping them either with the prompt underway, or longer pieces of writing they have on the go.
Final Debrief: the group reassembles for the last few minutes, for a discussion. There is an opportunity for students to share works in progress, if they are looking for feedback. Students are encouraged to articulate how the creative ideas explored during the class might impact their writing in the future.
We still have space on our creative writing classes in the fall – and all young writers are welcome, whether they have written before, or not. We hope to welcome your writer to one of our groups, this September!
