Class Description
This class will be hosted remotely! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance!
*Note: Parents/guardians must complete this permission form online if your teen is under 18.* Unlike previous forms, you only need to fill this 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 the form, registrations could be voided and the cancellation policy will apply. If the student is 18, simply let us know at [email protected]
Class Description:
Get writing in this weeklong teen class! Whether you’re working on your first novel or writing short stories, poetry, plays, or even fanfiction, this is an opportunity to improve your skills and learn about new forms. We’ll explore different genres, and each day will be filled with writing and reading exercises designed to get you thinking and creating. How do you engage all of the senses in your writing, so that your readers smell and taste your scenes? Can you sit down and have a conversation with your characters? How can you twist and tease language so that all of its sounds become your tools? Writing notebooks will be available, but feel free to bring your own. For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY.
Takeaways:
By the end of the week, you'll have your toolbox full of ideas, beginnings, and some drafts to keep your work moving forward.
This course is geared toward creative, energetic, and open-minded writers of all levels in any genre. Whatever style of writing you want to try or expand, bring your early ideas, questions, and drafts. Work on your projects in the company of other word lovers.
Note About Our NEW Class Format:
Based on your suggestions, GrubStreet put together a weeklong class that provides a balance of creative writing craft sessions and exercises with plenty of optional components so that teens can take screen breaks if they need them. Each morning session will feature a craft talk or group exercise in your “home” class group with your designated instructor. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you’ll have optional class meetings that could consist of:
- Silent group writing with music and available Q&A chat with the writing instructor.
- Book club/silent reading party and optional chat (if the class wants to read the same book, it will be provided to all students via ebook at the student’s registered email address)
- Guest instructor session on varying topics
- Group movie viewing followed by a class Q&A about craft techniques reflected in the movie
- Virtual field trips to museums and other virtual venues.
- Online writing game(s)
- Open Mic/sharing
- Anything else students request!
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, programming will consist of various YAWP instructors taking turns leading an ALL YAWP group session on certain topics related to writing and artistic life. Sessions might include any of the above listed items or craft topics like submitting work for publication or running a strong writing group, etc. Every Friday afternoon we’ll feature an optional open mic and milestone celebration to cheer our accomplishments. This means that every YAWPer taking a class in a given week will have three chances to come together as a large group and learn from instructors and students beyond their own classroom.
Afternoons are optional and lowkey, so you can opt-out if you are fatigued or dive in if you want more shared creative activity. It’s up to you! Either way, instructors will always be available to answer questions via email and/or Zoom chat.
Who Should Register?
For writers ages 13 - 18 ONLY.
Remember, parents/guardians must complete this permission form online if your teen is under 18.* Unlike previous forms, you only need to fill this 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 are registering on behalf of your teen, add their email information in the “For a Friend or Child?” field on the right-hand side of the screen before you check out. This will send them a direct link and reminder to create their own profile with GrubStreet.
(After adding the class to your cart, click "Checkout" and click “Add” next to “For a Friend or Child?” on the right-hand side to fill in their email. This is an easy way of linking the class to your child and encourages them to create their own account.)
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.