Writing Classes for Teens Archives

A FREE Creative Writing Workshop – and an Open House!

Join us for a FREE virtual Creative Writing Workshop Julie Hartley is offering a FREE Creative Writing workshop on Thursday 25th August, 7-8pm EST. This event is open to anyone who loves to write – adult writers, teen writers and children 9+. Creative Writing prompts include fantasy, memoir and poetry. Discover the joy of writing with us… just RSVP to julieATcentauriarts.com to receive the Zoom link for this workshop – then curl up in your favourite writing spot and get ready to be inspired. Centauri Arts Open House: Meet the Directors, and See our Studio Are you considering our classes in creative writing, fine art, film or acting for the first time this Fall? Are you interested in our English Tutoring program? Then come along [...]

August 12th, 2022|Academy, writing classes for adults, Writing Classes for Teens|

How to Write an Essay – and Why it Matters!

Essay writing skills are a key component of our English Tutoring program at Centauri Arts. Here are some of the ‘tips and tricks’ we offer our English tutoring students, to help them improve their writing skills: Planning before you begin to write is key to essay writing success Planning an essay carefully helps you organize your thoughts.. It also ensures you spot gaps in your research, and weaknesses in your argument, before you begin to write. Learn how to write a successful thesis statement For students in high school and beyond, a well crafted thesis statement is essential to success. Your thesis statement should be sufficiently ‘weighty’ to enable you to develop arguments sufficiently complex to ensure a good mark! Learn to craft successful topic [...]

August 10th, 2022|Academy, English Tutoring, Writing Classes for Teens|

6 Benefits of Creative Writing Classes and Creative Writing Camps!

Centauri Arts offers creative virtual and in-person creative writing classes for teenagers, and creative writing camps for children and teens – plus, occasional creative writing workshops for adults. But what are the benefits of creative writing classes? Creative Writing Classes Help Improve Writing Skills Our parents tell us that when their children and teens take creative writing classes with us, their academic grades improve. The more you write, the better at it you become – creative writing classes are a terrific way to improve writing skills! Creative Writing Classes and Camps Create Enthusiastic Readers Young people who write more, read more, too! Whether young writers are interested in writing poetry, writing short fiction, writing novels, writing plays or exploring genre fiction such as fantasy, science [...]

July 5th, 2022|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

Young Writers: 5 Places to Submit Your Work!

If you are a young writer working on a manuscript, then you are probably wondering which markets exist for your work. There are many literary magazines and publishing houses that accept work from young writers – and there are creative writing competitions for young writers, too! Here are some opportunities for young writers, to start you on your way. Remember a strong cover letter is always important when you are submitting your manuscript for consideration: Young Voices Magazine The Toronto Public Library publishes an annual magazine - Young Voices - which publishes the work of young writers and artists. You can check it out here: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/teens/young-voices.jsp The Walrus Magazine & Amazon Awards for Youth The magazine’s Youth Short Story Category invites authors between the ages [...]

March 31st, 2022|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

Creative Writing Classes at Centauri Arts: a Place for Young Writers to Grow

If you love creative writing – poetry, short fiction, writing novels, screenplays and more – then Centauri is the place for you. For 27 years, we’ve brought together young writers, and talented creative writing teachers to inspire them… and we continue to do so with creative writing classes AND creative writing summer camps, all starting in the next few weeks. Creative Writing Classes this Spring (starting April 2022). Julie Hartley is our instructor for the next Saturday creative writing class, which begins in our Bloor West studio on Saturday 23rd April. If you live in Bloor West Village, Swansea or anywhere else in Etobicoke and Mississauga, join us for a creative writing class that focusses on fantasy and science fiction. VIRTUAL Creative Writing Classes and [...]

March 30th, 2022|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

New Creative Writing Class for Teenagers in Our Bloor West Village Location!

Short fiction… poetry… novels… if your teenager loves writing in any of these forms, they would likely LOVE our new Creative Writing class, which begins in our Bloor West Village studio on Wednesday 23 February. The instructor for this program is centre director Julie Hartley; read all about her publications and experience at www.juliehartley.ca Creative Writing: From Prompts to Finished Product Most of our creative writing classes in Toronto and virtually focus on technique and inspiration; they combine imaginative creative writing prompts with a chance to learn about character development, plot structure, genre fiction and more. This class is a little different – it’s aimed at high school students who have experience as writers, and the goal is to help young writers to finish a [...]

January 25th, 2022|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

Young Writers: 8 Markets Looking for Your Work!

Getting Published... There are plenty of places that young writers can submit their creative writing: magazines and writing competitions are great options. If you have a short story, poem, novel excerpt or even art piece you would like to see in print, check out the following options: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/teens/young-voices.jsp This is a creative writing magazine published annually. They accept art, too! You must live in the Toronto area to submit your creative writing. https://thewalrus.ca/amazon-first-novel-award-youth/ This one is a great choice for young writers working on a novel! https://www.breakbreadproject.org/submissionguidelines This magazine promotes work by creative writers under the age of 25. https://www.nawe.co.uk/DB/magazines/cuckoo-quarterly.html This is a UK-based online magazine designed by and for young writers. For art, novels, creative non-fiction, poetry and short stories, try out this New [...]

December 16th, 2021|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens, Writing Prompts|

Creative Writing Classes for Teens: 10 Ways to Get Inspired!

Young writers in our creative writing classes often ask for writing prompts they can use to write poetry and short stories in their own time. Here’s 10 ways to find inspiration for your creative writing: Spend a day noticing whenever you smile, and what caused it. This is a great way to write poetry! Ask random questions on social media, and use the responses as writing prompts. Example: in ten words, what is something you always wanted to do, but never had the courage to try? Open a book at random and make note of interesting phrases. Use these in your creative writing. Take a virtual tour of an art gallery or museum. Imagine the story behind a famous painting, sculpture or artefact. Look for [...]

December 13th, 2021|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

Creative Writing Classes for Teenagers at the Centauri Arts Academy

Screenwriting Classes, Short Fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Fantasy… we have it all at the Centauri Arts Academy, starting January 2022! We are thrilled to announce that our popular Screenwriting program is back for Semester 2! This virtual program is taught by the talented Abby Buchmeyer, who is an award-winning screenwriter working in Writers’ Rooms in New York. Abby has been involved with Centauri Arts for more than a decade and currently teaches our Screenwriting Masterclasses in high schools, too. Our Screenwriting Workshop is ideal for anyone 12+ who loves writing and is interested in how to write for TV and Film! You’ll explore the work of successful screenwriters, dissect your favourite shows and learn to produce stories and scenes packed with intriguing characters and conflict. [...]

November 22nd, 2021|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

What Happens in a Creative Writing Class?

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 [...]

August 11th, 2021|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|