writing club in school

PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
Browse Articles
Learn Something New
Quizzes Hot
This Or That Game
Train Your Brain
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Relationships
Social Interactions

How to Start a Creative Writing Club

Last Updated: March 3, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Ashley Pritchard, MA . Ashley Pritchard is an Academic and School Counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of high school, college, and career counseling experience. She has an MA in School Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified as an Independent Education Consultant through the University of California, Irvine. This article has been viewed 35,491 times.

Do you have a passion for creative writing that you want to take to the next level? A great way to grow your writing skills is to start a creative writing club, where you can share your work with others who are invested in cultivating the same craft. Working with people who share similar interests to you is both fun and incredibly rewarding!

Things You Should Know

If you’re a student, talk to your favorite English teacher and ask them to sponsor the club; the odds are extremely high that they’ll be thrilled by the idea!
If you’re running the club, remember that different members are likely there for unique reasons—include a variety of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and screenwriting activities.
For a younger crowd, include a writing activity with every meeting and encourage members to share their work—be super supportive!
Make sure that if you’re doing any workshop-style discussions that the members understand that critiquing someone’s work does not mean criticizing them as people.
Clubs with older members will likely attract a good number of experienced writers, so you may want to start meetings by asking members if they’ve been working on anything they’d like feedback on before going into activities, lectures, or discussions.

Forming Your Club

Possible locations include your house, public park, an open classroom, or anywhere else you can meet and converse without disturbing others.

Word of mouth: Invite friends and acquaintances, and ask them to spread the word and bring their friends! Talk openly and excitedly about your club: your enthusiasm will help draw the interest of others. It’s a good idea to invite very broadly to begin with: the people who are truly invested in your club will show up and stick around.
Posters and fliers: Design a cool flier and post it around school or your workplace! This is a nice way to draw attention to your club.
Social media: For example, you can create a Facebook Event for the first meeting and share it widely with your friends!

Step 4 Consider searching for and recruiting an advisor.

If you do decide to ask someone to be your advisor, be considerate of their time and respectful when making your request. Sending them an introductory email explaining your plans (in as much detail as you can) will allow them to make an informed decision. It is also courteous to offer to meet in person or talk over the phone/Skype so that they can ask any questions they might have before they make their decision.
Advisors can be involved in a variety of ways, and this should be a conversation that you have directly with your potential advisor. Will they attend meetings? Will they offer guidance from afar? These are questions that are best to ask early on.

Step 5 Fill out and submit any necessary registration forms.

This is related to possibly need an advisor: some schools require an advisor's signature on club registration forms. Once again, just be sure to research your school, university, or organization's requirements.

Holding for Your First Meeting

You can choose an icebreaker that is relevant to the theme (if applicable) of your club, or you choose something entirely random. The point of this activity is to lighten the mood and help your members get to know each other and feel more comfortable opening up and sharing their work. Classic icebreakers like " Two Truths and Lie " (where everyone shares two true facts and a lie about themselves, and others guess the fabrication) and the "Name Game" (where each person has to find an adjective to describe themselves that starts with the same letter as their name) can be great simple options. [2] X Research source

Step 3 Include a creative writing exercise.

Write about an animal of your choice.
Open up a dictionary, pick a word, and write what it means to you.
Create a poem or story that starts with "Hello."
Write a piece that's inspired by a conversation you've recently overheard.
Write about something you dread or fear.

Step 4 Decide if you want to appoint club officers.

If voting proves too messy (this might be the case, especially if you have many members), an easy and neutral online tool that may help you decide when to hold meetings is doodle.com (or other similar scheduling applications).

Is your main goal as a group to spark new writing ideas together and actually practice writing during the meetings, or to critique and improve one another's written works? Alternatively, you may want to operate as more of a social/support group for writers, where you talk about your craft and hold one another accountable for your personal writing goals. Decide your focus together, and build that into your mission. [4] X Research source

Step 7 Talk about the structure of your club.

Bringing a large sheet of paper and pens (or whiteboard markers if your location has a whiteboard) can be a nice way of involving members in this process. Members can take turns suggesting and writing ideas. You can keep this piece of paper as a reminder for future meetings, or you can take it, type it up, and print it and share copies (or a combination).

Keeping Your Club Going

Step 1 Clearly communicate contact information.

It is helpful to bring a notebook to meetings so that new members can share their e-mails and/or phone numbers, and so that you can then add them to any groups or lists.

Step 2 Keep club members informed about future meetings and events.

It's a good idea to start an e-mail list, a Facebook group, and maybe a group chat so that you can add members and keep them informed and up to date on club meetings and activities. It's all up to you, but clear communication will help your club flourish.

Step 3 Consider how you will handle writing partners.

If you do choose to have writing partnerships be a part of your club structure, you may want to consider assigning writing partners randomly as well as have people change partners periodically. It's a good idea to try to prevent cliques from forming for many reasons: so that no one feels left out, so that members are receiving feedback on their work from multiple perspectives, and so that people are establishing many connections with many different members of different style, backgrounds, and personalities.
Give members ideas of how to connect with their writing partner. Suggest accessible practices such as, "After you've written your piece, share it with your partner via Google Docs so that you can read each other's work. Then, coordinate a time to meet and discuss one your work in person." Encourage members to do whatever feels most comfortable to them.

Step 4 Gather ongoing feedback from your members.

One way to do this is creating and sharing the link to a standing Google Form that is specifically designed for feedback. Creating an anonymous Google Form (or whatever type of digital survey works best for you) will encourage members to voice their opinions. It's good to establish protocol for how this feedback will be dealt with, early on: will you (as the leader) check the responses regularly, and will suggestions be discussed at meetings?
Another way to gather feedback is to designate an allotted amount of time during meetings to open up the discussion for feedback and suggestions.
If you and your members do decide that you want to discuss feedback weekly (however you choose to gather it, whether electronically or during meetings), you may also want to discuss the format of this discussion. Will it be an informal discussion? Will people vote? Will it depend on the feedback? These are good points to consider early on when determining club guidelines.

Step 5 Make sure that you have a plan moving forward.

Let members know what they should bring to the next meeting (i.e. laptop, notebooks, pens, etc.).
Ideally, set at least a loose agenda for your next meeting, before you wrap up your first one. Your goal should be to get right down to writing and club discussions in your subsequent meetings, now that you've set some ground rules and expectations. [6] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

Community Q&A

Bringing snacks can be a fun addition to any meeting. But be sure to communicate any allergens (nuts, dairy, etc.)! This will help incentivize people to come to the meetings, and—particularly if your club is hosted during lunch or after school—makes sure that no one is hungry entirely. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Bringing some extra notebooks and pens to the first meeting (or first few meetings) is always a good idea, just in case someone forgets their own. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Try this fun activity: Pass sheets of paper around so everyone has one. Have everyone write the beginning of a story, pass the sheet to the person on their right, and have them continue the story (then folding the sheet over so the next person can only see the most recently added sentence, not any of the previous sentences). It's sort of like the game "telephone," and you can theme it around a particular topic! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Be Accepted Into the National Honor Society

↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/publishing-insights/7-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-starting-a-writers-group
↑ https://icebreakerideas.com/quick-icebreakers/
↑ http://thinkwritten.com/365-creative-writing-prompts
↑ https://www.inkedvoices.com/writing/types/
↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/writing-groups/writing-group-starter-kit/

About This Article

Send fan mail to authors

Did this article help you?

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

Get the free weekly newsletter

wikiHow's Best Advice on Dating & Love

Primary Hub
Art & Design
Design & Technology
Health & Wellbeing
Secondary Hub
Citizenship
Primary CPD
Secondary CPD
Book Awards
All Products
Primary Products
Secondary Products
School Trips
Trip Directory
Trips by Subject
Trips by Type
Trips by Region
Submit a Trip Venue

Writing club – How to set one up and boost children’s confidence

In the inspiring environment of a well-run writing group, children’s literacy skills will flourish – so why not set up your own?

Lynda set up a lunchtime writing club, ‘Buzzwords’, in her primary school. She began with Year 6 and, after a while, opened the writing club to children across KS2.

Children were given notebooks and encouraged to ‘loosen their writing muscles’ with a range of word hunts, lists and short writing exercises. She found oral anecdotes and memories powerful ways of engaging less confident writers.

She always read aloud a piece of writing to broaden the children’s vocabulary, ideas and structures, and to increase their literary knowledge.

A collection of simple writing prompts also proved effective – pictures, maps, word collections, opening lines and newspaper headlines .

Children were happy to find their own materials and spaces, under desks as well as at them, and to write for 20 minutes.

Lynda established an atmosphere of respectful attention so children who wanted to would read out their work. They were always keen to know their peers’ responses and became fond of each other’s distinctive humour.

Greatest success

In Lynda’s view, children’s increased ease with writing was the club’s greatest success. This was especially the case for children with learning difficulties who had previously under-achieved because of low self-esteem, and for able writers hampered by the limitation of prescribed or over-structured writing tasks.

You may have heard of the National Writing Project UK (NWP UK). Perhaps you have attended one of its growing networks of ‘writing clubs’, which since 2009 have been bringing teachers together to write, share their work and enhance their practice.

But have you considered setting up your own for your school’s children? As the example above illustrates, the results can be well worth the effort…

How to set up a writing club

On your own.

Firstly, start writing today! Fix a regular time when you can sit quietly, and aim to write for at least 20 minutes. Sometimes this will be easy, at others hard, but you need to gain confidence to write even when you’re not feeling like it.

Try out the ideas you plan to use with the writing group. Once you’ve done this for a week or so, you’ll be ready to start.

You don’t have to share any of this with your club or class, but it really helps to write alongside pupils, using the same prompts, and to be prepared to show, share and discuss some of the evidence.

With the children

Sound out your individuals and classes. Identify your keen writers. Discuss the idea with them. Establish a convenient time (lunchtime or after school), so that you can meet once a week for at least half a term before you review or change anything.

Engage your enthusiasts by word of mouth, and advertise. In a primary school assembly with about 300 children, one teacher announced the start of her Year 5 and 6 writing club with these words: “I will be doing this in Mrs X’s classroom at lunchtime. If you would like to come along, we’re going to be writing things that we want to write and, you know, it’s for fun, basically.”

17 children came to the first session and 25 to the second. The club is still running after two years.

Get them engaged

Your club should be fun and stress-free, with a range of quick writing games and short challenges.
Meet in a quiet place.
Give each writer a notebook and pen, or encourage them to buy a nice one.
Establish ground rules about privacy, experimentation, practice, sharing and reflection.
Write alongside the children.
Get to know and value the different voices.
Celebrate diversity and withhold judgement.
Be prepared for the membership to change over time, but keep the invitations personal and positive, and keep repeating them.

Quick writing exercises for your writing club

You need something easy to break the ice and ‘loosen up the writing muscles’. And if it’s a lunchtime club you have to have an activity “that they can do while they eat their sandwiches…” noted one group’s leader!

The following list may provide some inspiration:

Newspaper headlines
Opening and closing lines
Lists of words
Word tiles to arrange
A simple stem-structure such as “I like…”, “I hate…”
A ‘scavenger hunt’ of the place you are in
Freewriting for five minutes without stopping

Agree beforehand whether this writing will be shared or not. It’s often good to have a shared and a private piece – that way children can get into the habit of trusting themselves to have a go, and of letting other, more considered, writing ‘brew’ inside them for a while.

Main writing activities

After a while this is best left to individuals to decide, but at first, some children may appreciate some guidance. Try:

Extending your writing from one of the first exercises (take a word, idea or phrase as a starting point)
Writing in voices or from a particular perspective – what the woman in the picture was really thinking; how the artefact came to be here; what the tree remembers
Using snatches of overheard conversations or ‘found’ phrases to launch you into your own writing
Finding an object/picture/view that interests you and write about it twice, moving your writing position/perspective to do so – once from one point of view, once from another

Again, agree beforehand how you will share the writing that takes place.

Establish ground rules, for example, listening to each other attentively and not being afraid just to say thank you. It’s useful to model how to respond to the writing process, rather than the product:

Where did you get your ideas from?
Which words/parts came easily and where did you struggle?
What would you like to do next with your writing?

When children are ready to share, model attentive listening to tone and content (it helps to hear the writing before you see it).

This process may be better in pairs at first, but where possible it’s fascinating to read around the group and hear what different writing has emerged during the session from similar stimuli.

Taking it further

You might like to enhance your group by writing together online. Most schools have a VLE with separate forums that can be closed except to those who are password approved.

This enables all children to see each others’ writing and give feedback. A teacher of one Year 6 class said that the biggest boost to children’s writing confidence came from appreciation and suggestions from their peer group.

Resources for your writing club

The following items will help keep your children inspired for hours…

Small boxes and envelopes, plain and coloured paper, card
A range of writing implements
Collections of postcards, pictures, quotations
A book box with novels, picture books and poetry
Magazines and newspapers to cut up
CD/DVDs: music, short films or clips
Ephemeral texts – newsletters, tickets brochures, catalogues and packaging
A props box, hats and scarves, glasses, glove puppets
A collection of objects – buttons, fir cones, jewellery, toys, bric-abrac, shells, stones

Once the group is established, it’s good to ask children to bring and add ideas, texts, objects, pictures, DVDs of their own.

This article is an edited extract of Introducing Teachers’ Writing Groups by Jenifer Smith and Simon Wrigley ( Routledge ), which is available now. It explains the importance of said groups and offers guidance on setting up your own. Browse more ideas for National Writing Day .

Sign up to our newsletter

You'll also receive regular updates from Teachwire with free lesson plans, great new teaching ideas, offers and more. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Which sectors are you interested in?

Early Years

Thank you for signing up to our emails!

You might also be interested in...

Why join Teachwire?

Get what you need to become a better teacher with unlimited access to exclusive free classroom resources and expert CPD downloads.

Exclusive classroom resource downloads

Free worksheets and lesson plans

CPD downloads, written by experts

Resource packs to supercharge your planning

Special web-only magazine editions

Educational podcasts & resources

Access to free literacy webinars

Newsletters and offers

Create free account

By signing up you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy .

Already have an account? Log in here

Thanks, you're almost there

To help us show you teaching resources, downloads and more you’ll love, complete your profile below.

Welcome to Teachwire!

Set up your account.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Commodi nulla quos inventore beatae tenetur.

I would like to receive regular updates from Teachwire with free lesson plans, great new teaching ideas, offers and more. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Log in to Teachwire

Not registered with Teachwire? Sign up for free

Reset Password

Remembered your password? Login here

How to Start a Creative Writing Club for Kids

I pitched the idea to a friend of mine, a professor of creative writing, who very graciously shared with me exercises she does with her grad students. It took some work but I brought them down to a level I thought would work with 4 th -6 th graders.

Next I had to get buy in from the school principal to run an after school club and use the library. She loved the idea but reminded me I needed a ‘baby sitter’ because I’m not a credentialed teacher. The librarian agreed to keep me on the straight and narrow and I promised to keep his library in good working order.

From there, I got myself invited to a PTA meeting to see if they would throw me some funds to run the club. Really all I wanted were notebooks, pencils and a few other little things here and there to help with the writing exercises. They said yes and I was off.

We meet once a month for an hour. We have two rules for Writing Club. The first is we are respectful of everyone’s ideas; if a fellow student is reading his/her work aloud, we are quiet and listen closely. The second is no one has to read if they don’t want to. No pressure. I also give away middle grade books I’m done reading. Winners beam like they’ve just won the lottery.

September’s giveaway books

At our first meeting this year fifty students showed up! I ran out of everything – notebooks, pencils, seats, table space – but seeing these kids, scribbling away, giving voice to the stories in their heads, gave me hope for the future.

(for specifics on the writing exercises, please visit my website )

Mission Statement

From the Mixed-Up Files is the group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. For anyone with a passion for children’s literature—teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals— we offer regularly updated book lists organized by unique categories, author interviews, market news, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a children's book from writing to publishing to promoting.

Shop Your Local Indie Bookstore

Privacy Overview

Discover more from from the mixed up files.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Book Reviews / Writing

The Why and How of Classroom Writing Clubs

by MiddleWeb · Published 07/14/2022 · Updated 11/03/2022

Writing Clubs: Fostering Choice, Collaboration, and Community in the Writing Classroom By Lisa Eickholdt and Patricia Vitale-Reilly (Stenhouse Publishers, 2022 – Learn more )

Reviewed by Katie Durkin

Creating opportunities for students to read common texts of choice and then discuss them together (and with me!) has always been a cornerstone of the activities I plan for my students each year.

Having students work together on their writing has always looked like peer editing in my classroom. I wanted students to edit each other’s writing to help each other become stronger writers.

But year after year, I felt like peer editing wasn’t working. Some students would finish this work quickly to move on to the next activity, while others spent too much time editing each other’s work, while others didn’t participate in the work at all.

Eickholdt and Vitale-Reilly’s work in Writing Clubs is the solution I have been looking for, and I think any teacher of writing will benefit from their suggestions and thorough information about how to implement these clubs in your own classroom.

Getting Started with Writing Clubs

Dividing the book into three major sections, Eickholdt and Vitale-Reilly begin the first section of Writing Clubs with a brief introduction where they offer readers the purpose and function of writing clubs in the classroom. They describe ideas for how to incorporate writing clubs into different models of learning, such as blended, online, or hybrid learning.

They also provide tips and tricks to guide teachers in launching these clubs in the classroom. This first section introduces the reader to the two major types of clubs discussed in the book, complement and stand-alone clubs, which are the focus of the last two major sections.

Process, Craft and Digital Clubs

The second section of the book focuses on complement clubs, where the authors provide information about three different types of writing clubs that could complement current units of study in the classroom. These three types of clubs will live alongside any unit of study on writing. They include:

1. Process clubs , which are described as students embarking on completing a piece of writing where they will learn how to support and mentor each other through the different stages of their individual writing process.

2. Craft clubs , which focus on the use of mentor texts to teach students about different craft moves authors can make to communicate through their writing.

3. Digital clubs , which allow students to use diverse digital platforms to create pieces of writing. Examples the authors provide include digital poetry, book trailers, videos, public service announcements, or multitouch books with links to websites or audio.

Genre, Author and Convention Clubs

The final section concentrates on stand-alone clubs, where students and teachers will be focused on genre, author, or convention study in clubs that allow students more choice in the classroom when deciding on what they would like to work on in their writing.

1. Genre clubs have students choose a genre they would like to explore in “clubs” (small groups), working with students who will be writing the same type of text. Examples of genre clubs could include graphic novels or comics, reviews, procedural texts, or any type of fiction.

2. Author clubs have students choose any author who they would like to get to know as a writer, reading multiple texts to eventually learn about craft moves to try out themselves as a writer.

3. Convention clubs move beyond just understanding the proper use of punctuation and capitalization in writing, and instead help students think about the “power of conventions” (p. xiii). Personally, this was my favorite club to learn about because students are asked to “experiment and play” with conventions rather than memorize how they have to be used (p. 150).

Convention clubs open up more possibilities for students to see how conventions can be used in fun ways to communicate different ideas in writing.

Options with Complement and Stand-alone Clubs

The last two sections of the book – focusing on complement and stand-alone clubs – are structured in the same way when describing the three complement clubs: process, craft and digital, and the three stand-alone clubs: genre, author, and convention.

When providing information about the six clubs described in this book, the authors use each chapter to first explain how teachers can prepare for the club by outlining what materials they would need and give options for the work teachers and students will do with the club alongside example teaching points. They also describe how club time is used, including examples of how they work with students and their thoughts as they create each club.

Finally, each chapter focusing on the clubs provides a calendar with an example unit where the mini-lesson, writing and conferring activities, club meeting, and wrap-up are provided. These calendars include details about the grade, length of unit, and unit of study.

Embedded within the chapters are student work examples, providing teachers with a look at what work students have produced in the past when participating in these clubs. Some chapters include anecdotes from the classroom or among a team of teachers who facilitated a writing club. I found these anecdotes to be particularly poignant because they provided a real-life look at how these writing clubs work.

Some chapters also include direct quotes from the classroom from both teachers and students when launching or participating in the different writing clubs.

Read a MiddleWeb article by the co-authors of Writing Clubs

Choice and Collaboration

The authors show, as evident by their title, how writing clubs are an opportunity to allow more choice and collaboration in the classroom. While Writing Clubs focuses primarily on grades three through six, these clubs could easily be implemented in 7th and 8th grade, high school and beyond.

We know that writing is not a solitary activity, even though it often presents itself as a task done alone. Writing Clubs provides teachers with an opportunity to transform the way that students write in their classroom, writing collaboratively with opportunities to understand the power of their own writing, much as adults might do when they attend writing workshops and NWP gatherings.

What I love most about writing clubs is that they are student-centered: students are equal participants in gathering resources, offering ideas for mini-lessons and more as they work with teachers and students to grow their skills as writers.

I highly recommend this book to any teacher who wants to try something new with writing in their classroom. It is a quick read and provides fantastic detail about how you could implement any of these clubs into your classroom.

I even plan on using many of Eickholdt’s and Vitale-Reilly’s ideas with my first-year college students, who will be taking my adjunct class on rhetoric and composition. I am excited to provide my school and college students with a fresh perspective on their own writing and to invite them into building and expanding their writing identities through writing clubs.

Katie Durkin ( @kmerz610 ) has been teaching English Language Arts to middle school students for over a decade, and currently teaches 7th grade Reading Workshop at Middlebrook School in Wilton, Connecticut. She is a zealous reader of middle grade and young adult books and enjoys sharing her love and passion for reading with her students. In 2022 Katie graduated from Northeastern University with her doctorate in education, where her research examined the impact of classroom libraries on middle school students’ reading engagement. She was the 2020 recipient of the Edwyna Wheadon Postgraduate Training Scholarship from the National Council of Teachers of English

Sign Up & Receive the Latest News about Our Content…

Email address:

First Name:

Read our Privacy Policy

BOOK REVIEWS

Mapping Out Diverse Gifted Programs

Using 100-Word Stories for Expansive Writing

What to Expect from AI in Class and Beyond

Strategies for Teaching Against Disinformation

The Democratic Roots Essential to Literacy

How to Reclaim Your Energy, Passion, & Time

A Leadership Blueprint for Growth and Success

A How-to Guide to Better Engage Your Students

10 Tools to Help Kids Develop Their Talents

The Reading Strategies Book Gets an Update

Opportunities for Swift Achievement Gains

Teaching for Retention, Application and Transfer

Strategies to Adjust ‘Up’ What Students Know

Assuring Just, Inclusive Learning for Newcomers

Building Bridges That Cultivate Teacher Growth

SEL, Civic Engagement, & a Healthy Democracy

An Enhanced Edition of ‘When Kids Can’t Read’

Shifting to Asset-Based Literacy Assessments

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content

Living God’s Word One Step at a Time

March 28, 2024 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

6 Activities for Your Teens’ Writing Club

One of my favorite extracurricular homeschool activities was leading a monthly homeschool writers’ club. We called ourselves “Writing Nerds” because that’s what we were—a group who loved reading and were interested in writing. Our group was made up of junior high and high school homeschoolers. We met for an hour and a half each month. If you like reading and know the basics of fiction writing, consider starting a group with your own homeschoolers.

Here are some activities to get your teens’ writing club started!

5 minute story:.

Give each student each three slips of paper. On the first, they write a character. On the second, they write a setting. On the third, they write a conflict. I had a basket for each (characters, setting, conflict), and they tossed them all in. They drew one slip of paper out of each basket, then they had five minutes to write a story about their character, conflict, and setting. The requirements for the story were:

Open with dialogue in paragraph #1
Describe the action in paragraph #2
Then they could describe the setting in paragraph #3.

After that they could continue with the story as they saw fit. They then read the stories out loud, and they were HILARIOUS! I still remember one was about a nun who had to bail from a plane that was crashing in Paris.

Teaching Dialogue:

To teach dialogue, I used plays, such as mixed-up fairy tales ( here are some free ones!) . We assigned parts and read sections of them out loud. Then I had them write the dialogue of the same characters in a different situation. For example, what if Baby Bear in the three bears showed up at the first day of school and his seat mate was Goldilocks?

Color Coding:

I photocopied the first pages of a novel—such as Kingdom’s Dawn by Chuck Black —and gave everyone a copy and crayons:

Red for action.
Green for dialogue.
Yellow for internal thoughts.
Orange for description.
Pink for emotion.

This really helped them see how novels are not just narrative (this happened, then that happened, etc.). Sometimes I had them write their own story following the same “color pattern.” The results were impressive. Sometimes we colored the openings to two different novels and then compared the authors’ writing style.

Snowflake Method:

We used Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method and “plotted” a novel. You can learn more about The Snowflake Method here .

3 Likes + 1 Dislike:

We assigned people to bring short stories or parts of their book to class every week. They had a limit of 1,000 words and they had to make enough photocopies for everyone in class. We passed around the story and gave eight to ten minutes for everyone to read the story. Then everyone went around and shared three things they liked and one thing they didn’t like.

I was the last to comment after everyone was done, and I did the same (but I usually gave two or three suggestions about ways they could improve their story). I was amazed how insightful the students were. The majority of the time they discovered all the “issues” by the time it got to me.

Sensory Exercise:

I had a collection of objects—steel wool, sponge, a plant, coins, etc.—that they could handle, and they had to write descriptions of them. Then they had to use that same description and describe something else—for example, the description for steel wool became the description for a knight’s armor.

Those are a few ideas to get you started. A writing club is so much fun—and educational, too!

Here is a FREE printable to use for your writing club!

More resources:.

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us by Sonya Haskins

Homeschooling 101 by Erica Ardnt

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Need more ideas and advice on homeschooling? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics . Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course. Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners. Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live. Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer. Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates , or follow me on Facebook , Twitter , Pinterest , Google+ , or Instagram .

Reader Interactions

February 1, 2018 at 7:23 pm

I have checked your website and i have found some duplicate content, that’s why you don’t rank high in google, but there is a tool that can help you to create 100% unique articles, search for; Boorfe’s tips unlimited content

January 16, 2019 at 12:55 pm

Thank you this was helpful was researching for my teens.Bless up .

Online Writing Clubs for Kids & Teens

🎥 Engaging live video chat classes

🏅 Vetted and passionate teachers

🚀 Build confidence through progress

The Mini-Prompt Express: Summer Creative Writing Club for Teens!

Creative Writing Club for Teens With Coach Jen:Led by Award-Winning Screenwriter

Pencil Pack: Early Writers (1st/2nd Grade) Weekly Writing Club (semester)

Intermediate Writing Club

Creative Writing Club

Creative Writing Club for Tweens W/Coach Jen: Led by Award-Winning Screenwriter!

Creative Writing Club (weekly)

Weekly Creative Writing Club!

Scary Story Writing Club

Novel Writing Club (Preteen Authors)

Legend of Zelda Weekly Writing Club

Creative Writing Club for Young Writers

Roblox Creative Writing Club (Weekly)

Paragraph Practice Writing Club With Feedback

Pokémon Creative Writing Club (Weekly)

Minecraft Creative Writing Club (weekly)

Let's Write: Creative Writing Club A2+ CEFR

Creative Writing Club: Let’s Get Creative & Write!

Weekly Writing Club: Fun Writing on Fun Topics!

Boost your kids' writing skills [eCourse]

✅ Signs your child needs writing support and or tutoring

✅ Practical things you can do to support their writing

✅ Unique writing clubs & workshops to inspire your kids

✅ Top diverse book picks to encourage a love of reading

✅ How to use gamification to make writing more fun

Reviews for top Writing Clubs classes

Parent submitted images.

Reviews for Writing Clubs classes

Explore more in writing clubs

Explore more in writing, explore more in english, articles you may find helpful.

Financial Assistance

Outschool international , get the app .

More to Explore

Classes by age , classes by grade .

Will you share your cookies?

We use cookies to make our site better. Some cookies are necessary, but having extra cookies lets us personalize your experience. Read our cookie policy.

Getting Started

Rules for writing clubs, begin with positive comments, being a good listener, writing for an audience, a writer’s sketchbook, using the internet, sharpening our skills, popular articles.

Online writing classes for children and young adults

The writing club.

Would your child’s writing benefit from some individual, expert attention?

Any of this sound familiar?

You’re worried about your child’s reluctance to write

You’d like your child to exceed expectations at school (perhaps there is an exam coming up…)

Your child writes as they speak to their friends – All slang and no precision

Your child’s handwriting needs attention and their sentences are confused

Wave Goodbye to all that

Give us just 20 minutes per week of your child’s time. and we will transform their writing..

The Writing Clubs are for children and young adults. You will see a huge uplift in confidence and technique from the very beginning.

A short, carefully designed task. Individual and considered teacher attention. Personal marking every week (and no need for homework or parent support)…

Content uplift

Confidence boost

Handwriting formation

Punctuation

Spelling consistency

Take the Next Step

£48 per month

This club will establish good habits, writing confidence, skills and techniques.

Lively task Detailed, personal marking and feedback Personal response to any questions

This club will build, lift and extend your child’s writing skills and techniques.

Concise weekly task Detailed, personal marking and feedback Personal response to any questions

This club challenges confident young writers to create high-scoring content. Perfect for GCSE.

Extended weekly task Detailed, personal marking and feedback Personal response to any questions

On the Fence?

Let us help…, try a taster of our online writing class, a behind-the-scenes look at our writing clubs…, the mini club.

We teach good habits, writing confidence, skills and techniques to 7 and 8 year olds.

Screen-shared resource
Sample feedback video

THE STANDARD CLUB

We build, lift and extend the writing skills and techniques of 9, 10 and 11 year olds.

Sample video feedback

THE HIGHER CLUB

We challenge confident writers to create high-scoring pieces for different purposes.

WHEN ARE THE CLUBS?

Each lesson is taught live on zoom three times per week.

Your child is welcome to drop in to any one of them, you don’t need to confirm which one.

All times in BST

5.30-5.45pm Tuesdays

5.30-5.45pm Wednesdays

4.30-4.50pm Tuesdays

6.00-6.20pm Tuesdays

6.00-6.20pm Wednesdays

5.00-5.20pm Tuesdays

6.30-6.50pm Wednesdays

HELP! I CAN’T DO ANY OF THE SESSIONS…

If your child is unable to make it to a live session each week, it really doesn’t matter.

Just log in and they can complete the video lesson at a time that suits you both.

Feedback is personal and the marking relationship is the key to progression.

YOU ARE NOT TIED IN…

There is no notice period, contract or obligation.

You can stop your payment immediately.

You shared your writing worries…

We asked parents to share their feelings about their children’s writing. Here’s what they told us:

“We are desperately trying to lift our daughter’s English skills.”

“He hates writing and doesn’t know how to get started.”

“He is an avid reader, it just doesn’t correlate onto paper sometimes”

“I suppose I would like her to learn how to produce a piece of writing that can tick all the boxes.”

“My son’s imagination and use of vocabulary is very good, but his grammar and spelling let him down.”

“My concern is his handwriting. He simply won’t accept that it is really messy – it is almost like it is too late.”

“The biggest issue with writing we have found is getting her to do what’s been asked for and not procrastinate about the task.”

“I would say she needs help being more descriptive and imaginative in her writing.”

“His writing style is very chatty and filled with slang; he writes as if he were telling a story to his mates and unfortunately grammar and correct English takes a back seat. For example, he will finish a sentence with phrases like ‘and all’ and ‘the lot’.”

SO THIS IS WHAT WE’VE INCLUDED:

A tightly constructed task.

Each lesson is like a mini writing workshop. It starts with a short, engaging introduction followed by a carefully constructed task. Our content and expectations are closely matched to the government (and GCSE board) planning frameworks.

Live teaching

Your child can ask questions, clarify their understanding and share their ideas with other young writers like them. There is a video lesson set up each week for those who can’t make it to the live session.

Hand-holding resources

This process is called ‘scaffolding’. Precise vocabulary and structure is provided every week to banish students’ fear of the blank page.

Personal, individual feedback

Every week their teacher shares a considered and positive marking video, with manageable targets set for the following task. Parent meetings are arranged to accelerate progression.

Access to our library

All our writing resources and videos of previous how-to lessons are available to you at the click of a mouse.

Problem-solving

Just ask a question when you upload your child’s work, and their teacher will answer it personally in the video feedback.

And how do parents rate the personal video marking and feedback?

“By the way, we LOVE your video feedbacks…SO useful.”

Writing Club has done wonders for her handwriting and confidence. She continues to write stories for pleasure at home and they are a joy to read and I’m in no doubt that the club tuition has given her that confidence.

I will recommend Griffin wholeheartedly to other parents looking to help their child’s writing.

Thank you very much for this. Love the video approach and Joseph was really chuffed with it. I know that he is more interested in a video message than a written comment (kids and technology!!)

The improvement in his handwriting in only 2 months has been incredible and he is feeling much more confident about it so thank you for everything!

I am so impressed with the writing club! Very happy we joined and will be recommending it to others.

Why do I have such a record of dramatically improving children’s writing?

Well it’s all down to my passion for the job and my particular background.

20 years + teaching experience. I’ve developed strategies To fix every single writing issue I’ve come across.

My four-year degree in education from Cambridge University (with Hons).

The seasons I spent marking Year 6 English SATs papers for the Edexel Exam Board.

picture of an adult encouraging a child to write

Clare, our higher club consultant, is an English GCSE and A level expert . we’ve worked together closely to clarify the planning framework and lesson content at the higher level.

I’ve gone out of my way to learn from inspirational speakers (Poet Laureate Simon Armitage being the most recent).

The 10 years I’ve spent running Griffin Teaching. In addition to being responsible for 1000+ children’s Kent Test 11+ passes , my students have gained places at super-selectives and top public and private schools across London and the South East.

I’m naturally positive and always see the best in children and their work.

How does it work?

• A new 5-minute lesson is published every week (5 minute video presentation with supporting resources linked below).

• This same task will be taught live three times on Zoom in the week and your child can attend either or both of these sessions.

• In the live session, or independently, our students complete a short writing task. This takes 15 minutes in the Mini Club and 20 minutes in the Standard and the Higher-Level Clubs.

• Snap a scan or photo of their work with your phone and attach it to the upload button on the lesson page. If you have a private question you would like us to answer in person, there is a space for this on the form.

• Friday is feedback day. Your child’s teacher will open any work you have uploaded and create a personal video, answering any questions there too. There is no obligation to keep up with every task. Any work uploaded will be given our full consideration.

When are the live sessions?

Each club has three live-taught Zoom lessons per week. They are lively and engaging sessions:

Minis: 4.30-4.45pm Mondays, 5.30-5.45pm Tuesdays and 5.30-5.45pm Wednesdays

Standard: 4.30-4.50pm Tuesdays, 6.00-6.20pm Tuesdays, 6.00-6.20pm Wednesdays

Highers: 7.30-7.50am and 5.00-5.20pm Tuesdays, 6.30-6.50pm Wednesdays

Your child is welcome to drop in to any of the sessions for their club, you don’t need to confirm which one.

Weekly content is also available on-demand as a 5-minute video introduction with supporting resources in the “My Account” area of the website. Just log in and your child can complete the lesson at a time that suits you both. Feedback is personal and the marking relationship is key to progression.

what do i need to provide?

• A good rollerball pen in black or blue.

• Lined paper—ideally in an exercise book . Or, if you prefer, I attach handwriting paper as a download in the lesson pages.

• Access to a laptop or PC to watch the video/attend the live lesson.

What makes the writing clubs so special?

Easy. It’s the mix of these three strengths:

• We care so much about our pupils (and their worried parents).

• Progression is at the heart of all our teaching. It’s exciting to enable children and to watch their confidence soar.

• Years of experience and attention to the detail of children’s writing is behind every single task and word of encouragement.

Which writing club should my child join?

The age groups listed below are a guideline. Children work at such different levels. The sample videos above may help you choose. Otherwise, please contact me directly to discuss.

THE MINI WRITING CLUB is for younger writers (age 7-8).

THE WRITING CLUB is for the upper primary years (age 9-11

THE HIGHER-LEVEL WRITING CLUB extends more confident writers (age 12-16).

All three clubs follow a manageable weekly model (15 – 20 minutes total) where the focus is on technical detail. Feedback is personal and directly addressed to your child. One task is set weekly, but if you can’t make it that week, the content and personal marking is all set up and can be picked up again at any time.

Any child is welcome to join at the higher level if interested in more challenging content and a slightly longer task. The club is most suitable for children approaching an exam where they will be asked to produce a high-scoring writing sample, or those who simply wish to excel in academic writing to achieve an ‘exceeding’ assessment in school.

What do we achieve?

It’s the presentation that you will notice first. Their letter formation and choice of vocabulary improves. Sentences employ correct English grammar, are well-formed and there is a new formality about their work.

After each online class—every single week—your child will take a step forward. Sometimes a small step and sometimes a giant leap…

What does it cost?

All 3 clubs are £48 per month (including VAT).

This club challenges confident young writers to create high-scoring content.

Still not sure?

No notice period or deposit.

Of course, I want you to love this club and to enthuse about your child’s fantastic writing progression.

If you don’t feel that the club is working for you, please contact me and I will go the extra mile to address any concerns you might have directly, and improve your child’s experience.

But no problem if it isn’t for you. You can stop your payment immediately. There is no notice period, contract or obligation (and we take our data protection responsibilities very seriously too).

Hayley Hobbs

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

60 High School Clubs and Activities To Join

What’s covered:, how many clubs should you join in high school, subject-area clubs, hobby clubs, community service/charity clubs, career interest clubs.

In many high schools, there is a wide variety of clubs and activities available for students to join. Clubs and activities are a great way to find where you belong in your high school social community and to find your niche among students with similar interests and goals.

Extracurriculars allow you to pursue your current interests and passions and perhaps even find ones you didn’t know you had. Thus, when you’re looking for clubs to join, try to pursue a mix of activities that you are familiar with and ones that may be out of your comfort zone. You’ll have plenty of time throughout high school to narrow down which ones are best for you.

Regardless of which activities you join, it’s important to get involved in your high school community for the sake of your college applications. Colleges want to see that their students were well rounded and were able to handle multiple responsibilities at once throughout high school, and extracurricular involvement is a sure sign of both.

If you’re unsure of which clubs and activities you should join, here’s a comprehensive list of clubs and organizations for you to get involved in during high school.

It’s a common misconception that colleges want to see you join a bunch of clubs and be well rounded. Colleges prefer students to have deep skills or interests in one or two main areas. This is because deep skills are seen as proof that you’re already successful in your field/passion and will likely continue to be successful, which reflects well on the college.

When it comes to admissions, the things you engage in outside of school are generally broken down into the 4 Tiers of Extracurricular Activities , with Tier 1 extracurriculars having the biggest impact on a college application and Tier 4 extracurriculars having the smallest.

To start with the highest tier, Tier 1 extracurricular activities are reserved only for the highest and rarest honors a high school student can receive. Essentially, the more prestigious the extracurricular achievement, the more likely it will be considered Tier 1. Tier 1 extracurriculars are often represented by national distinctions, whether it be for academics, athletics, or even the completion of a nationally recognized summer program. Students who initialize their own volunteering organization may also be considered to be in Tier 1.

On the other hand, Tier 2 extracurriculars may feel more achievable or attainable—things like distinctive leadership positions in existing clubs or organizations in your area. This could mean being president of an academic-centric organization like Model UN or student government, or even winning a regional competition.

Tier 3 is similar in that it recognizes any student who holds a minor leadership position or who obtains a minor distinction in an extracurricular activity. Lastly, students with Tier 4 activities are generally those who are active participants in an extracurricular without holding a designated leadership position.

That said, you may want to take your first year of high school to figure out what you like and don’t like, so it’s okay to try out a bunch of different things before deciding which ones to commit to. The ultimate goal is to build an extracurricular profile that shows depth. If you’re already a junior or senior, you’ll have to be more strategic. For tips on that, read CollegeVine’s article, How to Improve Your Extracurriculars Junior and Senior Year .

If you’d like to see more about how extracurriculars—and your activities specifically—stack up in the admissions process, head over to our free admissions calculator . The chancing engine will help you put your ECs into tiers and let you know how to improve your profile for your dream schools.

Art History Club: This is a club where you can analyze and present historic artistic masterpieces and hold discussions on the subject of art history. You may also get to discuss and practice techniques that art historians use to preserve valuable pieces of art. Some art history clubs take field trips to local museums and even plan international trips to artistic hubs like the Louvre, the Vatican, and Istanbul. The club can also be supplemental to students who took or plan on taking AP Art History, if that course is offered by their school.
Photography Club: If you’re interested in snapping photos or if you have a fancy camera that you don’t know how to use, photography club is for you. You could talk with fellow team members about how to take a great photo and how to analyze famous photos. You might also get access to a dark room where you can expertly develop the photos you take. You can even take turns organizing various themed campaigns in which club members will each take photos within specific themes, and then share their photos with the rest of the club.
Ceramics Club: If you’re interested in forming art from clay, stone, and other molding materials, a ceramics club could be for you. This club requires access to your school’s Ceramics studio, but pottery and other similar art forms are a great pastime that can also be tied to subjects learned in school. In this club, you can discuss how pottery has changed throughout history, from Ancient Greece to today. Ceramics is a fun group activity and a great way to connect with other students who are interested in art.
Literary Magazine Club: This is a great way for students to combine interests in both the arts and journalism. Schools use literary magazines as a way to showcase student works in the form of creative writing, poetry, art, and other literature, often in yearly issues. A literary magazine is a great motivator to get students involved in the literature and the creative arts. In this club, you’ll work with a team to select student work and to encourage students to play with different themes or subjects throughout the year. Your role in this club can help create a strong collective body of work in your school’s Literary Magazine.
Drama Club: Drama club is traditionally home to a school’s theatre enthusiasts. If you want the opportunity to act and practice your interpretation skills with a group, this is the club to join. You may get to audition for and star in plays for your school, and perhaps might even participate in acting competitions.
Improv Club: People who do improv and participate in improv performances and competitions say it’s one of the most fun activities they do. By joining this club, you’ll learn how to think on your feet and become comfortable with presenting in front of an audience. Some improv clubs do public performances and even put on competitions.
Film Club: This is the club for people who love to watch movies, and for those who want to become a director or be a part of the film industry one day. Through film club, you may get to watch great films, but you’ll also have the opportunity to create your own film productions with a group of like-minded individuals. You may even get to showcase your work at film festivals or in local presentations.
Science Olympiad: If you know that you want to go into a science-related field or if science really interests you, consider putting your knowledge into a competition with the Science Olympiad. Even if you may not have all the science background that you need through your classes, this club will be a great way for you to pick up some material and get ahead in your science classes. Many Science Olympiad teams compete in Science Olympiad tournaments on weekends.
Speech and Debate Club: If you want to get good at public speaking, reporting on current events, and making effective arguments, speech and debate is the club for you. Through speech and debate, you’ll have the opportunity to compete locally, regionally, and nationally in a variety of events that span from acting to intense 45-minute debates. Students who participate in speech and debate usually fall in love with it, and can often be found in suits competing at tournaments on weekends.
Mathletes: If math, statistics, or numbers in general spark your interest, consider working with them competitively by joining Mathletes. As a freshman, you may not have all the knowledge that you need to be competitive, but the club will be a great way for you to get ahead in your math classes and possibly to even compete with a team once you’re ready.
History Club: If you’re a history buff, consider joining a club dedicated to the subject. Through history club, you’ll get to learn about and discuss important historical eras and events. You may also be able to hear from various historians and other professionals that use history in their work. Perhaps you may even get to take trips down to famous historical sites so you can visualize historical moments in their entirety.
French/Spanish/Foreign Language Club: Every high school student is required to learn a foreign language, and what better way to get better at a foreign language than to immerse yourself in it through a club? Depending on which foreign language club you’re joining, the activities may vary. In general, however, you’ll find that most club meetings will be conducted almost completely in the foreign language, and you’ll have various events that celebrate the culture that is attached to that language.
Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs: It’s important that students, no matter what their sexual orientation is, feel valued at their school. The Gay-Straight Alliance club is meant to provide a safe environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and their straight allies. You should consider joining no matter how you identify.
Yearbook Club: If Yearbook is offered as a club in your high school, you ought to consider joining in order to be part of a very special high school tradition. As a member of the yearbook club, you’ll document your fellow students doing amazing things throughout the year, and your reports will be put in print for the entire school to see. This is definitely an organization that’ll give you something great to show for your efforts.
Academic Decathlon: Academic Decathlons are competitions where students are tested in a variety of academic subjects via multiple choice tests, performance events, and an essay. You get to work in a team, and you can compete no matter what your grades and GPA are. There are different levels for all types of students.
Multicultural Club: Multicultural Club is a great way for students to not only learn about other international cultures, but to meet other students who may come from diverse backgrounds. Students can bring various things that represent their cultures, including traditions, recipes, currencies, languages, flags, and more. In an increasingly globalized world, joining Multicultural Club is a fantastic way to orient yourself with other perspectives and cultures.
International Club: Outside of history class, there is probably no better way to learn about other countries and their histories, cultures, and traditions than International Club. Whether it be through a deep dive into European nations, cooking and trying dishes across Asia, or listening to the music of South America, International Club members will meet new people, learn new foreign languages, celebrate new holidays, and expand their horizons.
Music Club : One of the most overlooked extracurricular topics students can explore is music, and a Music Club can take many different forms in high school. Whether the club is dedicated to listening to and discussing new music, writing and recording original music, or even learning about how music is made, Music Club is a great way to stimulate interest in the arts in an accessible manner. After all, music is called the universal language, so why not learn about it?
Fashion Club : Fashion represents another interest that many students may have that might not necessarily be covered by your school’s curriculum. As such, getting involved in a Fashion Club is a great way to explore and grow an interest in the fashion industry without the pressure of needing formal experience. In Fashion Club, students can discuss and dissect fashion-heavy events like the Met Gala, look through books filled with fashion history, and even put on a Fashion Show to support a charity.
Chess Club: Chess is a complicated game that requires strategy, careful thinking, and practice. By joining the chess club, you’ll have the opportunity to learn new strategies to beat your opponents and the opportunity to practice playing against other students, giving you a fun challenge. You may even get to participate in chess tournaments.
Anime Club: If you’re an anime fanatic, here is your opportunity to participate in a fandom with your classmates. In this club, you’ll be able to watch all of your favorite anime shows and movies, learn to speak some Japanese, perhaps attend some anime conventions as a group, and maybe even draw some anime characters and write some scripts yourself!
Video Game Club: If playing video games is your favorite pastime, a video game club may be perfect for you. Not only will you have the opportunity to play the games you love and learn about some new games, but you may also get to play on the competitive level and learn a bit about how you can make a career out of this passion.
Political Affiliation Clubs: Regardless of your political affiliation, there may be a club for you to join and express your political interests. This can take the form of a Young Democrats Club, a Young Republicans Club, or even an Independents Club. Through these clubs, you will get to engage in some interesting political discourse, find ways to support your party, and perhaps do some lobbying with your local government officials to get certain pieces of legislation passed for your party of choice.
Religion Clubs: If your religious faith is very important to you, and you would like to get acquainted with other individuals who share your beliefs, consider joining a religiously affiliated club at your school. You can join a religious club simply if you want to learn more about a particular religion even if you do not practice it. Through this kind of club, you will be able to engage in sophisticated discussions about the religion and its texts, and also participate in school-held religious festivals, celebrations, and rituals with the club.
Outdoors Club: Sitting inside a high school building for 8 hours a day can be exhausting. Add some adventure to your high school career by joining a club that focuses on outdoor activities. These can include hiking, skiing, canoeing—you name it! You’ll get to engage in some fun outdoor physical activities with some great classmates who share the same sense of adventure.
Book Club: If you enjoy reading and want to make sure that the hustle and bustle of a busy high school schedule doesn’t prevent you from engaging with good literature, join a book club at your school. Book clubs are great for getting great book suggestions and keeping you accountable for keeping up with your reading. You’ll be able to engage in critical discussions of each book, allowing you to share your thoughts with other like-minded classmates.
Creative Writing Club: Want to write short stories or novels, or be the next Stephen King? A creative writing club is a good place for you to start. By joining this club, you’ll see your writing skills really improve as you practice writing constantly and receive helpful feedback from your peers.
Student Government: If you really want to be involved in your high school community and plan important events like dances or pep rallies, consider running for student government—also known as student council in some schools. You’ll be in charge of planning and executing events related to your class, giving you some great project management experience and allowing you to become very connected with your fellow classmates.
Robotics Club: Robotics professionals are in high demand in today’s tech companies, where machine learning and artificial intelligence are hot topics. It’s worth joining a robotics club to see if you have a passion in this field—it could set you up for a lucrative career in the future.
Quiz Bowl: Quiz Bowl is a competition that tests players on a wide variety of academic subjects. This would be a great club to join if you want to use some of the information you learned in your classes in a competitive setting, if you are a trivia buff, or if you’re just really good at memorizing facts.
High School Newspaper: For students interested in journalism, there’s no better extracurricular than contributing to your high school newspaper. High school newspapers cover topics ranging from the arts and sciences to current events and from school-related stories to editorials. Working for a school paper gives you the opportunity to explore a variety of interests while developing your voice and writing skills. In addition, it’s possible to obtain editor roles for your high school newspaper, giving you more of a say in what makes it into the paper.
Model Congress: Similar to Model UN, Model Congress offers students the opportunity to develop legislation on current issues, participate in various committees, and represent their assigned position through simulated debates. Model Congress takes many different forms across schools, and is most commonly represented in an annual multi-day conference that students can participate in.
Cooking Club: For emerging foodies, Cooking Club is an opportunity to build a repertoire of culinary skills alongside your friends. There are several different ways to organize Cooking Club, whether it be delegating someone each week to bring in a recipe, voting on recipes, or even engaging in a friendly competition to see who can cook the best dish. Regardless, Cooking Club is sure to be a popular club in any school and a great way to connect with more of your peers.
Glee Club: Despite what you may think, Glee Club is not just for fans of the TV show “Glee”—rather, it’s an outlet for students interested in music to perform in different capacities. Glee clubs have been around since the mid-19th century and usually entail a large ensemble covering and singing popular songs. Unlike a high school choir, however, Glee clubs are entirely student led. The songs, covers, and instrumentation will be entirely left up to the students, giving students a chance to exercise their creative and vocal muscles.
Amnesty International Club: Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights organization that works to combat various human rights violations all over the world. As a high school student, you can join a local Amnesty International chapter. Students in these chapters discuss certain human rights issues, participate in any way they can in local Amnesty International efforts, garner supporters and volunteers in their community, and raise money for the organization through various fundraisers.
Habitat for Humanity: By joining Habitat for Humanity, you’ll get your hands dirty for a good cause. Members of Habitat for Humanity build houses for those in need. If you’re not inclined to do a bunch of hard physical labor like laying foundation and drywall, no worries! You can volunteer by painting the finished houses or doing some other light tasks. Anyone can participate in some capacity!
Key Club: Key Club is one of the biggest high school charity organizations in the country. By joining the Key Club chapter at your high school, you’ll get to engage in various volunteering and charity events in your school and local community. You’ll usually have a minimum requirement of hours every semester to fulfill, and you’ll get to meet new people and give back to your community in the process.
Red Cross: If your school has a local Red Cross chapter, you should consider joining in order to support a company that helps those in need all over the world. You will most likely be volunteering with your local Red Cross team and hosting fundraisers to raise money for this organization.
Operation Smile Club: Operation Smile is an organization that provides free surgeries to children born with a cleft lip. By joining the Operation Smile Club at your school, you can raise awareness for Operation Smile and its efforts, host fundraisers to raise money for the organization, and even interact with children who have been helped by this organization.
Breast Cancer Awareness Club: Breast cancer awareness efforts have really mobilized in the last few years, and a high school club is one of your chances to get involved. You could help plan a walk for breast cancer in your local community, host a fundraiser to go towards breast cancer research, and even talk to breast cancer survivors who were helped by your efforts.
Save Endangered Species Club: If you want to help animals through your volunteer work, you can consider joining this activity. Through this club, you can help raise awareness about endangered species and some of the human activities that may be causing these animals to be endangered, host a fundraiser to donate money to the World Wildlife Fund, and visit a wildlife rescue center.
Hospital Volunteer Club: Some high schools offer students the opportunity to go to a local hospital and help out wherever they can. You may not engage in the most glorious or glamorous tasks at the hospital (you’ll probably be doing paperwork or some other busywork), but you can rest assured knowing that your efforts helped a hospital save lives.
Soup Kitchen Volunteer Club: Some high schools offer students the opportunity to volunteer at their local food bank or soup kitchen. These places gather and donate food for the needy. You would be donating just a few hours at a time and feeding many people who really need help. It’s a truly worthwhile cause.
UNICEF: High school clubs partner with UNICEF USA to educate, advocate, and fundraise. The efforts of high school clubs help UNICEF to save children in 190 countries and territories around the globe.
Environment Club: If saving Mother Earth is something you’re passionate about, consider joining an environment club, where you will get to engage in various projects to help clean up and green up your local community. For example, you may get to plan and engage in water conservation projects, cleaning up beaches, starting a recycling initiative at your school, etc.
Recycling Club: The students in recycling clubs are the ones who make sure that your high school is being eco-friendly in its classrooms. These students establish the school-wide recycling initiative by delivering the bins to each classroom. They usually come by on a weekly basis to pick up the recycling bins and deposit the materials in the appropriate location to be recycled.
Tutoring Club: You don’t have to go out into your community to make a difference. You can help students at your school by tutoring them in subjects that you’re doing well in! If you have a knack for certain subjects and enjoy explaining concepts to others, this is the community service club for you.
PALS: This club is a great idea for anyone who loves working with kids and who wants to be a positive influence on their generation. Students who join PALS get to visit kids at an elementary or middle school, where they are each paired with a younger student called their “Pal.” You get to meet with your Pal throughout the year and do some fun activities with them to make their day better. Overall, it’s a wholesome activity for responsible teens and kids.
Best Buddies Club: Best Buddies is an international non-profit organization that lets volunteers be a friend or mentor to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. High school chapters will often pair students within the school, fostering an environment in which any student can get involved and help the overall mission of the organization. If a chapter does not yet exist at your high school, you can apply for more information on the Best Buddies website .
Future Business Leaders of America: For all you students who are set on entering the corporate world, join FBLA to get a head start on your career. FBLA is the largest career student business organization in the world. It helps students develop the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.
Computer Science Club: Computer Science is a high-demand career nowadays, and it tends to pay very well if you work for the big tech companies. Thus, it’s worth trying out a computer science club in high school to learn some coding and see if this incredibly lucrative field is something you might be interested in. You’ll get to develop complex programs and perhaps even enter competitions to see what your classmates have built.
Future Scientists/STEM Club: If you think your future may have you getting involved in scientific research, consider joining a club that prepares you for that. You’ll be able to participate in science fairs, learn about the most groundbreaking studies in various fields, and possibly network with various scientists working in actual labs.
Future Medical Professionals Club: If you think you want to be a doctor, join this club and make sure that it’s the right path for you. Medical school and 7-year med programs are extremely competitive, and this club will help you learn about the field and garner some resources to help you pursue a medical career.
Model United Nations: This is an activity in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. Model UN teaches participants about research, public speaking, debating, and writing skills.
Mock Trial: Mock Trial is an activity where you get to be a part of a team that simulates an actual lower court trial. Students participate in rehearsed trials to learn about the legal system in a competitive manner. Your role in Mock Trial depends on what part of the trial you are acting out, and you’ll get to compete on a local and possibly regional level.
DECA: DECA prepares emerging leaders in entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and hospitality and management for careers around the globe. High school chapters get to participate in local, regional, and national competitions through their club chapter.
FFA: The National FFA Organization focuses on educating students in agricultural studies. It was created to help high school students learn about agriculture, and it provides the opportunity for students interested in going into farming to learn valuable techniques, attend conventions, and compete in various events related to agriculture.
Investment Club: Investment clubs provide you with an opportunity to learn about the stock market, the bonds market, and other ways you can invest funds to make money. You get to learn how to evaluate a market in order to make strategic investments and maximize your return on investment. You’ll also get to network with investment bankers and other industry professionals who can tell you how to potentially make a fortune doing this as a career. Students can even compete with their peers using online simulation tools that mirror the stock market.
Technology Students Association: The Technology Student Association (TSA) is an international student organization created to develop skills in STEM and business education. By joining, you’ll be able to develop skills that you will need in the workplace and participate in local, regional, and national competitions with other TSA students at your age level.
Ethics Bowl: Run by the National High School Ethics Bowl, Ethics Bowls are competitions in which high schools compete with one another to analyze and debate real-life ethics cases, and win by delivering comprehensive arguments in defense of the positions they actually believe in. The purpose of Ethics Bowls is to prepare students for ethical dilemmas they may encounter in their future careers, and equip them with the tools to work together to solve them.

Looking for more extracurricular activity ideas? Check out our huge list of 900+ extracurriculars and list of 100 extracurriculars you can do at home .

Our creative writing workshops

Through our creative writing workshops, we provide a high energy, fun and nurturing environment for children to explore their imagination and express themselves in written form. Our workshop structure combine several years of experience as teachers, parents and authors to offer quality and stimulating workshops for your children. We keep our range of writing activities interesting and varied so that children keep coming back term after term! We have experience of working with disadvantaged and neurodiverse children.

How we do it

We partner with local schools and organisations to instil and develop a genuine love of writing in children, which we hope will stay with them for life. We carefully design our lesson plans around themes that would engage and intrigue children. We incorporate a range of learning styles to keep the children engaged. The link below provides some examples of what we cover in our workshops - please click the green icon below to find out more

Damisi is a writer and poet and has published several pieces of poetry and short stories in literary magazines.

Office Manager

Nuria has a degree in Business Studies and extensive experience in administration and marketing

E-learn Writing Course

Now launched.

We are very excited to announce the launch of our online creative writing workshops. Please click on the link below to find out more

Course Content

Welcome to game of stories, listen to me before you start, what makes a good story, characterisation, bringing it all together, the course includes, past events.

We have been using Writing Champions as an after school club this half term and are extremely impressed. The children are really enjoying the club and the bubbling noise of excitement can be heard across the school! It is lovely to see so many children engaged in creative writing. We will definitely be using Writing Champions in the future. Ms Poynter, Literacy Lead Scotts Park Primary School

Taylor absolutely loves to write, especially short stories and your classes have helped enhance her vocabulary and creativity. Your classes have given her the confidence to share her short stories with family and friends, whereas before she felt her work wasn’t good enough. We all agree her expression, use of similes and content have greatly improved and it is a pleasure to read her work. Kelly Red Hill school

As a parent I have been really impressed by the careful planning and structured approach taken to the sessions. An outline of what will be covered in class is shared with parents at the beginning of term which is very helpful. The tutors are well engaged and always at hand to provide feedback at the end of the sessions. I also liked the certificate (or bookmark!) of achievement given to the children at the end of the term which makes them proud of the work they have done and the new skills learnt. La Fontaine School

My son was a reluctant writer and reluctant reader before attending the creative writing sessions. After a term at Writing Champions, I have seen his interest in reading improve. He has even spontaneously picked up a pen and paper to write his own stories! Mrs Rana La Fontaine School

My child really enjoys Writing Champions. She comes home enthusiastic about the sessions and having produced some wonderfully imaginative stories in various styles. I can really see the progress she is making and confidence growing. I also appreciate the easy and efficient online booking system and the clear communications from Writing Champions. Fay La Fontaine School

Writing Champions have been running a creative writing club at our school now for two terms and it has been a very positive experience for all involved. The club is well organised and run by engaging staff members. The school has not had to be involved with any of the club admin and can fully rely on the team to ensure that it runs smoothly each week. The children who have attended so far have been excited about attending the club and full of praise for Miles who runs our sessions. It has been lovely to see some of our less confident writers have the opportunity to express themselves through their creative writing and expand upon their own ideas week by week. Ms Harman, Literacy lead St Nicholas School

I really liked the sessions. The teacher was nice and supportive and was one of the best I ever had. The lessons were fun and imaginative. One of the best clubs I've ever been to. Eva, Year 5 John Ball Primary School

+44-07796921259
[email protected]

Does my child need to bring anything to the writing class?

My school is not listed on your website. can i still register my child, is there a minimum age of child you accept, do you accept childcare vouchers.

writing narratives about personal experiences and those of others (real and fictional)
discussing and recording ideas
noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary
using other similar writing as models for their own
assessing the effectiveness of their own and others’ writing.
[email protected]

Your Account | Full Catalog

Moscow – Writing Workshop

The Moscow Public Library presents a writing workshop in partnership with UI’s Writing in the Schools program.

This workshop is geared toward adults who are looking to explore their writing skills through themes of place and memory in a collaborative writing exercise, with time for solo writing.

Join us at the Moscow Public Library on January 30 at 2:00pm.

+ Add to Google Calendar
+ iCal / Outlook export

Share this event

110 S. Jefferson St. Moscow, Idaho 83843

208.882.3925

Digital Library

Events Calendar

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl condimentum. Placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed. Egestas tellus rutrum tellus pellentesque eu tincidunt tortor aliquam nulla. Sagittis nisl rhoncus mattis rhoncus urna. Sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna id. Imperdiet massa tincidunt nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Non consectetur a erat nam at lectus urna duis. Aliquam eleifend mi in nulla posuere sollicitudin aliquam ultrices. Congue nisi vitae suscipit tellus mauris. Nunc id cursus metus aliquam eleifend mi in.

Morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames. Vitae semper quis lectus nulla at volutpat diam ut. Accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis. Lectus quam id leo in vitae turpis. Nascetur ridiculus mus mauris vitae ultricies. Iaculis at erat pellentesque adipiscing. Cursus metus aliquam eleifend mi in nulla. Donec ac odio tempor orci dapibus. Egestas sed tempus urna et pharetra pharetra. Nisi lacus sed viverra tellus in hac habitasse. Integer vitae justo eget magna fermentum iaculis eu non. Massa placerat duis ultricies lacus. Felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo vel orci porta. Aliquam sem et tortor consequat id porta nibh venenatis. Amet luctus venenatis lectus magna fringilla urna. Faucibus interdum posuere lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing. Proin nibh nisl condimentum id venenatis. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec. Massa placerat duis ultricies lacus. Ridiculus mus mauris vitae ultricies leo integer malesuada.

Est pellentesque elit ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat. Accumsan lacus vel facilisis volutpat. Auctor elit sed vulputate mi sit amet mauris. Ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare massa. Eu non diam phasellus vestibulum lorem sed risus. Mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa. Facilisis volutpat est velit egestas dui. Ut tristique et egestas quis. Scelerisque eu ultrices vitae auctor eu. Et egestas quis ipsum suspendisse ultrices gravida dictum fusce.

Vitae proin sagittis nisl rhoncus mattis rhoncus. Amet venenatis urna cursus eget nunc scelerisque. Arcu bibendum at varius vel pharetra vel. Malesuada fames ac turpis egestas integer eget aliquet nibh. Dapibus ultrices in iaculis nunc sed. Amet tellus cras adipiscing enim eu. Pellentesque massa placerat duis ultricies lacus sed turpis. Pellentesque sit amet porttitor eget dolor morbi. Et netus et malesuada fames ac. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing. Cursus turpis massa tincidunt dui ut. Eu turpis egestas pretium aenean pharetra magna ac placerat. Condimentum lacinia quis vel eros donec ac odio tempor orci. Ultrices eros in cursus turpis. Ut eu sem integer vitae justo eget magna fermentum.

Scelerisque mauris pellentesque pulvinar pellentesque. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam. In massa tempor nec feugiat. Eu scelerisque felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo vel. Tempus urna et pharetra pharetra massa massa ultricies. Netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas maecenas. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. Tristique nulla aliquet enim tortor at auctor urna nunc id. Est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet. Tortor at auctor urna nunc id cursus metus aliquam eleifend. Consectetur libero id faucibus nisl tincidunt eget nullam. Mus mauris vitae ultricies leo integer. Risus in hendrerit gravida rutrum quisque non tellus orci ac. Gravida dictum fusce ut placerat orci nulla pellentesque dignissim. Pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed viverra ipsum. Faucibus a pellentesque sit amet porttitor.

Writing Groups

Clearwater Writers Network

Organizer: Needs a new organizer. Could it be you? Location: Orofino, Idaho For more information visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1966187353598515/

Confluence Writers

Organizer: Janet Marugg Location: Lewiston, Idaho For more information and meeting times contact Janet at [email protected]

Palouse Chapter, Idaho Writers League

Current President: Mark Ready Location: Moscow, Idaho This group is a hybrid that meets in person and via zoom on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays for critique. For more information contact Mark at: [email protected]

Inland Northwest Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Palouse Contact: Annette Pimentel Location: Spokane, Washington This group has a KitLit Book Club for adults that meets at One World Cafe in Moscow, Idaho. Meetings are at 11:30 am on the 1st and 3rd Mondays each month.

For more information about this group, visit their webpage: https://inlandnw.scbwi.org

Municipal Leaders: Jay Dearien (Moscow) & Sean Williams (Pullman) Location: Everywhere in November. Just Moscow, Idaho the rest of the year. National Novel Writing Month is November, but Jay holds edit and write-ins in Moscow, Idaho every Saturday at 10 AM. Location alternates between One World Café and Moscow Contemporary. Drop-ins welcome. Email Jay ahead of time to get the location, his email is: [email protected]

Also, visit the local NaNoWriMo Page: https://nanowrimo.org/regions/usa-idaho-moscow-Lewiston

Shari’s Critique Group

Palouse Contact: Sanan Kolva Location: Moscow, Idaho

This is a dedicated critique group that meets in the back of Shari’s on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month. Meet at 6:30 PM for dinner, critiques usually start about 7:00 PM. They mostly focus on novels and longer works, but short stories are also welcome. Fiction/Nonfiction okay. If you come, bring copies of your work with you to pass out to be critiqued at the next meeting.

For more information, contact Sanan Kolva at https://sanankolva.com/contact-me/

National Groups

Authors Guild

An aerial view of the University of Idaho's Moscow campus.

Virtual Tour

Experience University of Idaho with a virtual tour. Explore now

Discover a Career
Find a Major
Experience U of I Life

More Resources

Admitted Students
International Students

Take Action

Find Financial Aid
View Deadlines
Find Your Rep

Two students ride down Greek Row in the fall, amid changing leaves.

Helping to ensure U of I is a safe and engaging place for students to learn and be successful. Read about Title IX.

Get Involved

Clubs & Volunteer Opportunities
Recreation and Wellbeing
Student Government
Student Sustainability Cooperative
Academic Assistance
Safety & Security
Career Services
Health & Wellness Services
Register for Classes
Dates & Deadlines
Financial Aid
Sustainable Solutions
U of I Library

A mother and son stand on the practice field of the P1FCU-Kibbie Activity Center.

Upcoming Events

Review the events calendar.

Stay Connected

Vandal Family Newsletter
Here We Have Idaho Magazine
Living on Campus
Campus Safety
About Moscow

The largest Vandal Family reunion of the year. Check dates.

Benefits and Services

Vandal Voyagers Program
Vandal License Plate
Submit Class Notes
Make a Gift
View Events
Alumni Chapters
University Magazine
Alumni Newsletter

U of I's web-based retention and advising tool provides an efficient way to guide and support students on their road to graduation. Login to VandalStar.

Common Tools

Administrative Procedures Manual (APM)
Class Schedule
OIT Tech Support
Academic Dates & Deadlines
U of I Retirees Association
Faculty Senate
Staff Council

Department of English

M.f.a. creative writing.

English Department

Physical Address: 200 Brink Hall

Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102

Phone: 208-885-6156

Email: [email protected]

Web: English

Thank you for your interest in the Creative Writing MFA Program at the University of Idaho: the premier fully funded, three-year MFA program in the Northwest. Situated in the panhandle of Northern Idaho in the foothills of Moscow Mountain, we offer the time and support to train in the traditions, techniques, and practice of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. Each student graduates as the author of a manuscript of publishable quality after undertaking a rigorous process of thesis preparation and a public defense. Spring in Moscow has come to mean cherry blossoms, snowmelt in Paradise Creek, and the head-turning accomplishments of our thesis-year students. Ours is a faculty of active, working writers who relish teaching and mentorship. We invite you in the following pages to learn about us, our curriculum, our community, and the town of Moscow. If the prospect of giving yourself three years with us to develop as a writer, teacher, and editor is appealing, we look forward to reading your application.

Pure Poetry

A Decade Working in a Smelter Is Topic of Alumnus Zach Eddy’s Poems

Ancestral Recognition

The region surrounding the University of Idaho is the ancestral land of both the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce peoples, and its campus in Moscow sits on unceded lands guaranteed to the Nez Perce people in the 1855 Treaty with the Nez Perce. As a land grant university, the University of Idaho also benefits from endowment lands that are the ancestral homes to many of the West’s Native peoples. The Department of English and Creative Writing Program acknowledge this history and share in the communal effort to ensure that the complexities and atrocities of the past remain in our discourse and are never lost to time. We invite you to think of the traditional “land acknowledgment” statement through our MFA alum CMarie Fuhrman’s words .

Degree Requirements

Three years to write.

Regardless of where you are in your artistic career, there is nothing more precious than time. A three-year program gives you time to generate, refine, and edit a body of original work. Typically, students have a light third year, which allows for dedicated time to complete and revise the Creative Thesis. (48 manuscript pages for those working in poetry, 100 pages for those working in prose.)

Our degree requirements are designed to reflect the real-world interests of a writer. Students are encouraged to focus their studies in ways that best reflect their artistic obsessions as well as their lines of intellectual and critical inquiry. In effect, students may be as genre-focused or as multi-genre as they please. Students must remain in-residence during their degrees. Typically, one class earns you 3 credits. The MFA requires a total of 54 earned credits in the following categories.

12 Credits : Graduate-level Workshop courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction. 9 Credits: Techniques and Traditions courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction 3 Credits : Internships: Fugue, Confluence Lab, and/or Pedagogy 9 Credits: Literature courses 12 Credits: Elective courses 10 Credits: Thesis

Flexible Degree Path

Students are admitted to our program in one of three genres, Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction. By design, our degree path offers ample opportunity to take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses in any genre. Our faculty work and publish in multiple genres and value the slipperiness of categorization. We encourage students to write in as broad or focused a manner as they see fit. We are not at all interested in making writers “stay in their lanes,” and we encourage students to shape their degree paths in accordance with their passions.

What You Study

During your degree, you will take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses.

Our workshop classes are small by design (typically twelve students or fewer) and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. No two workshop experiences look alike, but what they share are faculty members committed to the artistic and intellectual passions of their workshop participants.

Techniques studios are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These popular courses are dedicated to the granular aspects of writing, from deep study of the poetic image to the cultivation of independent inquiry in nonfiction to the raptures of research in fiction. Such courses are heavy on generative writing and experimentation, offering students a dedicated space to hone their craft in a way that is complementary to their primary work.

Traditions seminars are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These generative writing courses bring student writing into conversation with a specific trajectory or “tradition” of literature, from life writing to outlaw literature to the history of the short story, from prosody to postwar surrealism to genre-fluidity and beyond. These seminars offer students a dynamic space to position their work within the vast and varied trajectories of literature.

Literature courses are taught by core Literature and MFA faculty. Our department boasts field-leading scholars, interdisciplinary writers and thinkers, and theory-driven practitioners who value the intersection of scholarly study, research, humanism, and creative writing.

Award-Winning Faculty

We teach our classes first and foremost as practitioners of the art. Full stop. Though our styles and interests lie at divergent points on the literary landscape, our common pursuit is to foster the artistic and intellectual growth of our students, regardless of how or why they write. We value individual talent and challenge all students to write deep into their unique passions, identities, histories, aesthetics, and intellects. We view writing not as a marketplace endeavor but as an act of human subjectivity. We’ve authored or edited several books across the genres.

Learn more about Our People .

Thesis Defense

The MFA experience culminates with each student writing and defending a creative thesis. For prose writers, theses are 100 pages of creative work; for poets, 48 pages. Though theses often take the form of an excerpt from a book-in-progress, students have flexibility when it comes to determining the shape, form, and content of their creative projects. In their final year, each student works on envisioning and revising their thesis with three committee members, a Major Professor (core MFA faculty) and two additional Readers (core UI faculty). All students offer a public thesis defense. These events are attended by MFA students, faculty, community members, and other invitees. During a thesis defense, a candidate reads from their work for thirty minutes, answers artistic and critical questions from their Major Professor and two Readers for forty-five minutes, and then answer audience questions for thirty minutes. Though formally structured and rigorous, the thesis defense is ultimately a celebration of each student’s individual talent.

The Symposium Reading Series is a longstanding student-run initiative that offers every second-year MFA candidate an opportunity to read their works-in-progress in front of peers, colleagues, and community members. This reading and Q & A event prepares students for the third-year public thesis defense. These off-campus events are fun and casual, exemplifying our community centered culture and what matters most: the work we’re all here to do.

Teaching Assistantships

All students admitted to the MFA program are fully funded through Teaching Assistantships. All Assistantships come with a full tuition waiver and a stipend, which for the current academic year is roughly $15,000. Over the course of three years, MFA students teach a mix of composition courses, sections of Introduction to Creative Writing (ENGL 290), and additional writing courses, as departmental needs arise. Students may also apply to work in the Writing Center as positions become available. When you join the MFA program at Idaho, you receive teacher training prior to the beginning of your first semester. We value the role MFA students serve within the department and consider each graduate student as a working artist and colleague. Current teaching loads for Teaching Assistants are two courses per semester. Some members of the Fugue editorial staff receive course reductions to offset the demands of editorial work. We also award a variety of competitive and need-based scholarships to help offset general living costs. In addition, we offer three outstanding graduate student fellowships: The Hemingway Fellowship, Centrum Fellowship, and Writing in the Wild Fellowship. Finally, our Graduate and Professional Student Association offers extra-departmental funding in the form of research and travel grants to qualifying students throughout the academic year.

Distinguished Visiting Writers Series

Each year, we bring a Distinguished Visiting Writer to campus. DVWs interface with our writing community through public readings, on-stage craft conversations hosted by core MFA faculty, and small seminars geared toward MFA candidates. Recent DVWs include Maggie Nelson, Roger Reeves, Luis Alberto Urrea, Brian Evenson, Kate Zambreno, Dorianne Laux, Teju Cole, Tyehimba Jess, Claire Vaye Watkins, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Shields, Rebecca Solnit, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Susan Orlean, Natasha Tretheway, Jo Ann Beard, William Logan, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, Gabino Iglesias, and Marcus Jackson, among several others.

Fugue Journal

Established in 1990 at the University of Idaho, Fugue publishes poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid work, and visual art from established and emerging writers and artists. Fugue is managed and edited entirely by University of Idaho graduate students, with help from graduate and undergraduate readers. We take pride in the work we print, the writers we publish, and the presentation of both print and digital content. We hold an annual contest in both prose and poetry, judged by two nationally recognized writers. Past judges include Pam Houston, Dorianne Laux, Rodney Jones, Mark Doty, Rick Moody, Ellen Bryant Voigt, Jo Ann Beard, Rebecca McClanahan, Patricia Hampl, Traci Brimhall, Edan Lepucki, Tony Hoagland, Chen Chen, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, sam sax, and Leni Zumas. The journal boasts a remarkable list of past contributors, including Steve Almond, Charles Baxter, Stephen Dobyns, Denise Duhamel, Stephen Dunn, B.H. Fairchild, Nick Flynn, Terrance Hayes, Campbell McGrath, W.S. Merwin, Sharon Olds, Jim Shepard, RT Smith, Virgil Suarez, Melanie Rae Thon, Natasha Trethewey, Philip Levine, Anthony Varallo, Robert Wrigley, and Dean Young, among many others.

Academy of American Poets University Prize

The Creative Writing Program is proud to partner with the Academy of American Poets to offer an annual Academy of American Poets University Prize to a student at the University of Idaho. The prize results in a small honorarium through the Academy as well as publication of the winning poem on the Academy website. The Prize was established in 2009 with a generous grant from Karen Trujillo and Don Burnett. Many of our nation’s most esteemed and celebrated poets won their first recognition through an Academy of American Poets Prize, including Diane Ackerman, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Gregory Orr, Sylvia Plath, Mark Strand, and Charles Wright.

Fellowships

Centrum fellowships.

Those selected as Centrum Fellows attend the summer Port Townsend Writers’ Conference free of charge. Housed in Fort Worden (which is also home to Copper Canyon Press), Centrum is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering several artistic programs throughout the year. With a focus on rigorous attention to craft, the Writers’ Conference offers five full days of morning intensives, afternoon workshops, and craft lectures to eighty participants from across the nation. The cost of the conference, which includes tuition, lodging, and meals, is covered by the scholarship. These annual scholarship are open to all MFA candidates in all genres.

Hemingway Fellowships

This fellowship offers an MFA Fiction student full course releases in their final year. The selection of the Hemingway Fellow is based solely on the quality of an applicant’s writing. Each year, applicants have their work judged blind by a noted author who remains anonymous until the selection process has been completed. Through the process of blind selection, the Hemingway Fellowship Fund fulfills its mission of giving the Fellow the time they need to complete a substantial draft of a manuscript.

Writing in the Wild

This annual fellowship gives two MFA students the opportunity to work in Idaho’s iconic wilderness areas. The fellowship fully supports one week at either the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS), which borders Payette Lake and Ponderosa State Park, or the Taylor Wilderness Research Station, which lies in the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. Both campuses offer year-round housing. These writing retreats allow students to concentrate solely on their writing. Because both locations often house researchers, writers will also have the opportunity to interface with foresters, geologists, biologists, and interdisciplinary scholars.

Program History

Idaho admitted its first class of seven MFA students in 1994 with a faculty of four: Mary Clearman Blew, Tina Foriyes, Ron McFarland (founder of Fugue), and Lance Olsen. From the beginning, the program was conceived as a three-year sequence of workshops and techniques classes. Along with offering concentrations in writing fiction and poetry, Idaho was one of the first in the nation to offer a full concentration in creative nonfiction. Also from its inception, Idaho not only allowed but encouraged its students to enroll in workshops outside their primary genres. Idaho has become one of the nation’s most respected three-year MFA programs, attracting both field-leading faculty and students. In addition to the founders of this program, notable distinguished faculty have included Kim Barnes, Robert Wrigley, Daniel Orozco, Joy Passanante, Tobias Wray, Brian Blanchfield, and Scott Slovic, whose collective vision, rigor, grit, and care have paved the way for future generations committed to the art of writing.

The Palouse

Situated in the foothills of Moscow Mountain amid the rolling terrain of the Palouse (the ancient silt beds unique to the region), our location in the vibrant community of Moscow, Idaho, boasts a lively and artistic local culture. Complete with independent bookstores, coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants and breweries, (not to mention a historic art house cinema, organic foods co-op, and renowned seasonal farmer’s market), Moscow is a friendly and affordable place to live. Outside of town, we’re lucky to have many opportunities for hiking, skiing, rafting, biking, camping, and general exploring—from nearby Idler’s Rest and Kamiak Butte to renowned destinations like Glacier National Park, the Snake River, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, and Nelson, BC. As for more urban getaways, Spokane, Washington, is only a ninety-minute drive, and our regional airline, Alaska, makes daily flights to and from Seattle that run just under an hour.

For upcoming events and program news, please visit our calendar .

For more information about the MFA program, please contact us at: [email protected]

Department of English University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, ID 83844-1102 208-885-6156

Wszystko ma zyc

Andriy Lytvynenko, Tetyana Dorodnitsyna

Film portrays the unusual daily life of Anna Kurkurina, a charismatic athlete, 'the strongest woman in the world', an animal activist and an out lesbian. At an early age, Anna already proved to have a unique bond with animals. She taught biology at school, worked at the local zoo where she made friends with a lion, helped to set up animal shelters, and tried to find new homes for dozens of stray animals. At the age of forty, she decided to pursue a career as a power-lifter and soon made it to the top by becoming a triple world champion. She also started to work as a coach of young people with disabilities. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anna has been using the power of her popularity as an athlete and a social media influencer to help injured and abandoned animals, following her motto - Whoever saves one life saves the whole world.

Recommendations

IMAGES

Primary Creative Writing Club
Writing Club
6 Activities for Your Kids' Writing Club
Writing club at DC elementary school helps kids narrate life : CultureFeed
Creative Writing Club begins its second year at Palatine High School
The Writing club

VIDEO

Creative Writing Club creates outlet for students
typingclub com TypingClub School Edition is the most powerful and popular software used by teac
What inspired you to start the MHS writing club?

COMMENTS

Top 10 Creative Writing Club Ideas
Having a creative writing club at your school can have a whole host of benefits for pupils. Read on to learn about our 10 top creative writing club ideas and activities that can help pupils overcome writer's block and write more confidently. If you're reading this blog, it might be because you're looking for some ideas on how you can get ...
How to Organize an Extracurricular Writing Club at School
Meeting in a common area encourages multiple grade levels to participate and avoids the stigma that the writing club is for a certain type or age of student. Our club meets 3 times a month in the library from 8:00 till 8:45. Membership is flexible; any student may join the club at any time. Attendance varies from 30 students to 10 students.
How to Start a Creative Writing Club (with Pictures)
You can initially publicize your club with a simple name, like a "Creative Writing Club" or "Romance Writing Club.". 2. Choose when and where you will hold the first meeting. At this first meeting, you can brainstorm as a group and make decisions about when and where to meet long-term. Possible locations include your house, public park ...
Creative writing
Creative writing club. Before becoming an author, I ran creative writing clubs in 30 schools a week for almost a decade. I hired over 100 tutors, won some awards, teamed up with publishers to arrange author events, and even had requests from teachers in Europe, Dubai and Australia asking to launch a club in their schools.
Writing club
Your club should be fun and stress-free, with a range of quick writing games and short challenges. Meet in a quiet place. Give each writer a notebook and pen, or encourage them to buy a nice one. Establish ground rules about privacy, experimentation, practice, sharing and reflection. Write alongside the children.
Everybody Writes: writing groups
A writing group is a great way to establish a writing culture in your school. The resources provided on this page provide guidance on starting your own writing club, and will help you inspire students to enjoy writing as well as developing skills. The activities work well for extra-curricular writing groups, but can also be used with smaller ...
How to Start a Creative Writing Club for Kids
When school started last year, I got the crazy idea that the students at my daughter's elementary school might like a forum in which to do creative writing. Although they get some in the classroom, I was thinking of a completely non-judgmental environment where I guide them but they ultimately do what they want, where there are no wrong answers or points off for misspelling a word. Really, I ...
Getting Started with Writing Clubs
Writing Clubs: Fostering Choice, Collaboration, and Community in the Writing Classroom. Lisa Eickholdt , a middle school literacy coach, has also worked as an elementary teacher, interventionist, Reading Recovery teacher, literacy professor, author and consultant.
Creative Writing Opportunities for High School Students
Simply gather creative writing exercises from books or online searches and then gather on a regular basis to respond to them, share work, and offer constructive criticism. A creative writing club can also be an important accountability tool for students who are working on independent creative writing projects.
Writing Clubs: Fostering Choice, Collaboration and Community
Choice and Collaboration. The authors show, as evident by their title, how writing clubs are an opportunity to allow more choice and collaboration in the classroom. While Writing Clubs focuses primarily on grades three through six, these clubs could easily be implemented in 7th and 8th grade, high school and beyond.
PDF Writing club resources
As part of the planning stage decide if the club will be open to all or restricted to targeted children. This will determine whether you: Publicise the group widely within school and invite people to sign up for it (this will probably attract only those who are keen writers already); Specifically invite the targeted individuals.
Creative Writing Clubs Online Classes for Kids and Teens
Ignite passion for writing with engaging online Creative Writing Clubs for kids and teens. Develop skills, confidence, and make new friends! Search. Browse . Popular. Schooling Approach. Homeschool. After School. ... Creative Writing Club for Middle School, Welcome Storytellers Ages 10-15. Ms. Tasha. 5.0 (24) Save. $12. per week. Group. class ...
6 Activities for Your Kids' Writing Club
6 Activities for Your Teens' Writing Club. One of my favorite extracurricular homeschool activities was leading a monthly homeschool writers' club. We called ourselves "Writing Nerds" because that's what we were—a group who loved reading and were interested in writing. Our group was made up of junior high and high school homeschoolers.
Online Writing Clubs for Kids & Teens
1x. weekly. Creative Writing Club for Teens With Coach Jen:Led by Award-Winning Screenwriter. Coach Jen | SAG-AFTRA + AEA. 4.8. (178) $18. per week. Group.
How (and Why) to Start a Writing Club
A Sample Writing Exercise. We used this during a club meeting. Type the paragraph starters and leave large spaces for the students to write. Print them out, cut the pieces apart, and give each student a strip to complete. Allow about fifteen minutes and then read the compiled story aloud.
Online Writing Classes for Kids Age 7+
THE MINI WRITING CLUB is for younger writers (age 7-8). THE WRITING CLUB is for the upper primary years (age 9-11. THE HIGHER-LEVEL WRITING CLUB extends more confident writers (age 12-16). All three clubs follow a manageable weekly model (15 - 20 minutes total) where the focus is on technical detail.
Learn Touch Typing Free
TypingClub is the best way to learn touch typing online for free. You can choose from 650 fun and engaging typing courses, games and videos in different languages and levels. Whether you are a student, a teacher or a professional, TypingClub can help you improve your typing skills and speed.
60 High School Clubs and Activities To Join
A creative writing club is a good place for you to start. By joining this club, you'll see your writing skills really improve as you practice writing constantly and receive helpful feedback from your peers. ... UNICEF: High school clubs partner with UNICEF USA to educate, advocate, and fundraise. The efforts of high school clubs help UNICEF ...
Writing Champions
We also tailor our learning outcomes to the needs of each specific school and the agreed topic area. To find out how Writing Champions can support your Artsmark journey, contact us at: [email protected], or on 07796921259. Writing Champions.
Moscow
The Moscow Public Library presents a writing workshop in partnership with UI's Writing in the Schools program. This workshop is geared toward adults who are looking to explore their writing skills through themes of place and memory in a collaborative writing exercise, with time for solo writing.
Writing Groups
This group has a KitLit Book Club for adults that meets at One World Cafe in Moscow, Idaho. Meetings are at 11:30 am on the 1st and 3rd Mondays each month. ... National Novel Writing Month is November, but Jay holds edit and write-ins in Moscow, Idaho every Saturday at 10 AM. Location alternates between One World Café and Moscow Contemporary.
M.F.A. Creative Writing
For more information about the MFA program, please contact us at: [email protected]. Department of English. University of Idaho. 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102. Moscow, ID 83844-1102. 208-885-6156. The Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program at the University of Idaho is an intense, three-year course of study that focuses on the ...
An Ivy League future awaits Moscow High School senior
Geoff Crimmins/Daily News. Moscow High School senior Jieyan Wang never considered applying to Ivy League Schools until last year. After completing the SAT with a 1550 out of 1600 maximum points ...
Wszystko ma zyc (2024)
She taught biology at school, worked at the local zoo where she made friends with a lion, helped to set up animal shelters, and tried to find new homes for dozens of stray animals.