Teen Summer: You’re Not Alone—Find Your Writing Community!

***This class will be hosted remotely! You'll receive an email from your instructor about 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin with a Zoom link. There is no need to download or sign up for Zoom in advance!***

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Class Description:

Do you ever feel like it’s difficult to find a writing community, especially when you’re taking classes over Zoom? Do you feel like writing classes seem to revolve around the teacher, without much opportunity for writers to get to know each other? This multi-genre class is all about finding your people and working with them to create something. Bring your social energy, your geekery, your passion for writing, and your willingness to experiment. We won’t just read and critique each other’s work; we’ll try our hand at collaborative story writing, dual voice poems, and even student directed prompts and exercises. We’ll brainstorm how to keep a community going: is it through Discord? Through scheduled meetups or work exchanges? Letter or postcard exchanges? We’ll dedicate time every class to getting to know each other through games, journaling, and instructor-free breakout spaces. We’ll read sample writers in all the genres we explore but will also learn about great literary friendships and writing communities. For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY. This class was previously listed as, Find Your Writing Friends! A Week of Community-Centric Writing. 

Takeaway:

Students can expect to leave class with drafts of poems, stories, and personal journaling, including some work created collaboratively. They'll also leave with a plan in place to continue developing relationships with their new writing friends.

Zoom Accessibility:

Online NEW Class Format--Sustainability and Community:

Based on student suggestions and to offer writers a sustainable learning experience, this YAWP weeklong provides a balance of craft sessions and exercises with plenty of optional components so that teens can take screen breaks as needed. 

Each morning session will feature a craft talk or group exercise with your designated instructor, and in the afternoon you’ll have optional and lowkey meetings that could consist of:

• Q&A chat with your writing instructor
• Group writing with music
• Reading party
• Movie viewing followed by a chat about craft
• Writing games
• Open mic/sharing

Students are encouraged to self-advocate, opting out if they are fatigued or diving in if they want more creative activity. Either way, instructors will always be available to answer questions via email and/or Zoom chat!

Registration Instructions:

• If the student is under 18, parents/guardians must complete this permission form online. You only need to fill this form out ONE TIME, NOT for every class. If you cannot remember whether you have already filled it out, please email [email protected] and we will check for you! If you do not complete this form, your registrations could be voided and the cancellation policy will apply.
• If the student is 18, simply let us know by emailing [email protected].
• If you are registering on behalf of a student, add their email in the “For a Friend or Child?” field on the right-hand side of the screen at check out. This will send them a direct link and reminder to create their own profile with GrubStreet.
• Please register with your preferred name :)

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***If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected]. We’re looking forward to writing with you this summer!***