creative writing for class one

Creative Writing For Class 1 Format, Examples, Topics, Exercises

Creative writing for Class 1 is an excellent way to introduce young students to the world of storytelling, imagination and self-expression. It is important to foster creativity and encourage students to express themselves in unique ways. Here are some guidelines, examples, topics and exercises to help you teach creative writing to Class 1 students.

Format for Creative Writing in Class 1:

1. Brainstorming: Start the session by asking students to share their ideas and thoughts on the topic given to them. Encourage them to think outside the box and come up with unique and interesting ideas. 2. Storytelling: Once the students have some ideas, encourage them to start writing a story. Provide them with a basic structure or outline, such as an introduction, middle, and conclusion. 3. Illustrations: Ask students to illustrate their stories with drawings or pictures. This will help them to visualize their ideas and bring their stories to life. 4. Sharing: Allow each student to share their story with the class. This will give them an opportunity to practice their public speaking skills and receive feedback from their peers.

Also Read: Creative Writing Topics For Class 4 

Examples of Creative Writing For Class 1:

1. Write a story about a magical forest.

Once upon a time, there was a magical forest. The trees were tall and covered in green leaves. The animals that lived in the forest were friendly and happy. One day, a group of children went into the forest to explore. They soon discovered that the forest was full of surprises. They found a tree with a secret door, a pond with talking fish, and a clearing with a giant mushroom. The children had the time of their lives in the magical forest, and they couldn’t wait to come back and explore more.

2. Write a story about a lost puppy.

Once there was a little puppy named Max. Max loved to play and explore, but one day he got lost. He wandered through the streets and tried to find his way back home, but he couldn’t remember the way. Luckily, a kind-hearted boy found Max and took him in. The boy gave Max food, water, and a warm place to sleep. The boy also put up posters and asked around to try to find Max’s owner. After a few days, Max’s owner saw one of the posters and came to pick him up. Max was so happy to be back home, and he never wandered off again.

Topics for Creative Writing for Class 1:

1. My favorite animal 2. A day at the beach 3. My family 4. My favorite food 5. A trip to the zoo 6. A Day in the Park 7. My favorite toy 8. My best friend 9. My favorite book 10. My favorite movie

Exercises for Creative Writing for Class 1:

1. Picture Prompt: Show students a picture and ask them to write a story based on what they see. For example, show a picture of a beach and ask them to write a story about a day at the beach. 2. Story Starters: Provide students with a sentence or two to start their story. For example, “Once upon a time, there was a magical castle…” 3. Word Association: Give students a word and ask them to write a story that includes that word. For example, give them the word “giraffe” and ask them to write a story that includes a giraffe. 4. Collaborative Writing: Ask students to work in pairs or groups to write a story together. This will encourage teamwork and creativity. 5. Character Development: Ask students to create a character and write a story about that character. Encourage them to think about the character’s personality, appearance, and backstory.

Conclusion On Creative Writing For Class 1:

Creative writing is a great way to help Class 1 students develop their imagination and creativity, as well as their writing skills. By providing students with a variety of topics and exercises, you can help them explore their own interests and experiences and encourage them to express themselves in unique ways. It is important to create a positive and supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their stories and ideas with their classmates. With practice and encouragement, Class 1 students can become confident and imaginative writers who enjoy the process of creating and sharing their stories.

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• Class 1 Essay

Interesting Essays For Class 1 Kids

Essays for Class 1 are one of the most attention-grabbing sections of the kid’s learning process. Essay writing is considered one of the most essential and creative parts of every competitive examination around the globe. It helps in assessing the thinking capacity, creativity and writing prowess of a student’s talent. For young learners, writing an essay for Class 1 is like an opportunity to express themselves in pen and paper and helps them discover their knowledge and writing skills on a given topic.

How are our Essays for Class 1 different?

• Essays have been written in simple, concise and attractive language.
• They have been provided in sets of 10 lines for easy understanding of kids.
• They cover all the crucial aspects of the topic.
• The essays are linguistically precise as they have been crafted by our subject-matter experts.

English Essay Topics for Class 1

Here we bring you a list of English essay topics for Class 1 that young learners would enjoy writing, thereby enhancing their creativity and mental horizon:

Writing an essay for Class 1 introduces and encourages young kids to use their own imagination in weaving their thoughts into words by composing write-ups for various English essay topics for kids .

The more they practice writing a variety of essay topics for Grade 1, the more proficient they become with their English writing skills. Meanwhile, kids also get to explore a variety of words and their vocabulary improves while drafting an essay for Class 1 in any given topic.

Other Resources for Kids

Want to explore other subject resources for your kids? You can click on the links given below to know more about each topic:

• Class 1 Maths
• Class 1 English
• Class 1 EVS
• Class 1 Poems

Are you looking for more such absorbing resources? You can explore our Kids Learning section and offer the joy of learning in the most interesting and fun way. We have a huge collection of learning resources and materials, such as worksheets, poems, stories, GK Questions, trivia questions, NCERT Solutions, etc., for your kids.

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Tue, 05 May, 2020

Creative writing prompts and other types of writing for Class 1 students !

Linked table of contents, introduction, how is it taught, what are other types of writing.

Writing is considered one of the best ways of expressing one's ideas and thoughts. It helps one to imagine a new world and write about it. For kids, writing can be a new skill that can fascinate them. Creative writing is a skill that can be quickly developed with little practice and guidance. There are multiple types of writing, for example, fiction writing for kindergarten. However, to learn this skill, one needs to invest time. That's why you will observe that PlanetSpark is focusing on providing creative writing prompt courses to kids. 

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What is a creative writing prompt? It refers to a writing method through which one tries to question something creatively. Moreover, it is usually used to take a topic for an essay or start a discussion.

The present educational system follows multiple ways and methods to teach creative writing prompts. However, the methods vary with the maturity of the students. In this discussion, we are specifically going to talk about creative writing prompts for class one. 

The first step is to understand that creative writing does not have any limit. Of course, the words have to mean something as they have to follow a grammatical pattern. However, except that there is no boundation on what one can write. This is the fundamental of creative writing, which helps students explore their minds and write as per their wishes. Moreover, it allows the student to think out of the box.

The next step is to create drafts and guide the students. It is essential to understand the basics of creative writing prompts. It is similar to fiction writing prompts for kindergarten; the basics should be clear. This helps the student understand what will lead to an interactive prompt and what will lead to a bad prompt. 

The next step is to unpack all types of writing. Before starting with creative writing, going through the examples of the same is a good step. Examples allow the student to connect with the type of writing and understand the requirements. Moreover, it also acts as the initial ignite for the kid to think and write as per their creativity. 

Using technology is another method to introduce students to creative writing . Digital classes have been the modern way of teaching in Planet Spark. Moreover, it has allowed PlanetSpark to connect and conduct classes at home. Therefore, making teaching extremely affordable and easy. 

Learn creative writing with planetSpark’s best creative writing courses for your child. Book a FREE class NOW and start their journey today!

There are thousands of types of creative writing at present. Some of them are used for novel writing, while others are used for other purposes. For instance, fiction writing prompts for kindergarten are a way to introduce children to creative writing for the first time. Creative writing involves a lot of practice and a deep understanding.  

The field of creative writing has evolved drastically in the past few years. There are multiple ways available for kids to learn and understand creative writing in-depth. For instance, multiple online educational platforms offer creative writing courses. Moreover, multiple blogs are written on creative writing, which offers great quality guidance to kids. This has allowed students to learn any course, including creative writing prompts, quickly.  

When it comes to writing, there are hundreds of types of writing available . Before learning any, one must understand the differences and requirements of each type of writing. For instance, creative writing prompts refers to sentences, which usually give a topic to start an essay. Similarly, there are other types of writing, each with a different type of requirement and characteristics. All these factors make writing a complex and challenging task. In addition to this, there are multiple subsections of creative writing . Therefore, it is essential to understand which type of creative writing is good for students. For instance, fiction writing prompts for kindergarten are considered the best writing method for kindergarten students.  

In conclusion, creative writing prompts for class 1 are extremely easy to learn with online platforms. Moreover, we have discussed various other types of writing related to creative writing . We have also discussed methods that can be used to teach creative writing to kids, including working on the building blocks. All these factors help a kid learn creative writing prompts easily and effectively. Moreover, it helps develop a skill that can be used in multiple industries.

For more information, talk to our experts NOW!

Is creative writing difficult to learn? 

No, creative writing is not difficult to learn. One just needs to have good guidance and knowledge about writing. 

What all comes under creative writing? 

Everything which can help a person to think and write on his own comes under creative writing. A creative writer has the freedom to write anything. There is no limit. 

What not to do in creative writing? 

Copying the writings of another writer or source is the only thing that must not be done. 

Is there a difference in creative writing for kids as compared to adults? 

The difference is only in the ability to think and imagine. Kids have a smaller world as compared to adults. 

People who read this blog, also read this:

This Creative Writing Course can make your Class 4 student a very skilled Writer!

Why is PlanetSpark’s Creative Writing Course for Class 6 students, the best in India!

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My School Essay For Class 1

Key Points to Remember When Writing an Essay on My School for Class 1

10 line on my school essay in english for class 1, short essay on my school for class 1, what your first grader will learn from the essay.

While initiating creative thinking among young learners is a difficult task, encouraging them to write essays on topics closest to their hearts, such as an essay on their school, can help them express their thoughts and feelings. This is since it is the one place that has the most influence on children, after their homes. Children in first grade can generally write simple but complete sentences using capital letters and punctuation marks like commas and periods. They can use ‘story language’ in their writing while incorporating phrases such as ‘once upon a time’ and ‘happily ever after’. Hence, simple essay writing is a critical aspect of learning English for kids, and it can help develop overall creativity and express ideas effectively in words.

Creative writing is a fun activity that can stimulate the minds and offer new ways to write better sentences. Here are some key points to keep in mind when writing an essay about your school:

• Freedom of thought is important in creative essay writing.
• Write down ideas that come to your mind, as they will help you elaborate on the essay.
• A strong introduction of an essay can get the reader moving and give a sense of the topic.
• You should end the introduction by pointing out what will be covered in each structure.
• Background information gives the reader the context to understand the topic and argument.
• Organise ideas in the form of sentences.
• Write the essay in your own words.
• The essay should conclude powerfully and effectively. Ending the essay on a positive note is also a hint that it contains valid arguable points, which will make the essay overall good.
• After finishing the body and conclusion of the essay, check and revise if the introduction matches the content of the essay.
• After composing it, read the essay out loud to make corrections. It’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them.

Here is an example ‘My School’ essay in 10 lines for class 1 kids:

• My school is one of the most highly rated and popular schools in town.
• The building of my school is spacious, green, and very beautiful.
• My school has a huge playground for playing various outdoor games.
• Physical education classes are conducted once every week in my school.
• We have very kind and caring teachers in our school.
• I have a lot of friends in school with whom I play and study together.
• My school has a big library where I can read different books.
• The science and social science laboratories of my school are well equipped.
• Several national and religious festivals are celebrated in my school with great pomp and show.
• I love going to my school as I learn new things every day.

Writing an essay is one of the most enjoyable experiences for kids. It can help them express their thoughts and enhance their spoken and written English skills. Here is a short paragraph on the topic that could aid in scoring good marks:

My school is quite famous in our town, with facilities for Class 1 to Class 12. It is very spacious with lots of classrooms and a big ground. We play a lot of indoor and outdoor games in our school and have various activity classes. My school also has a huge library and a well-equipped science lab. We celebrate various national and cultural functions in school. We have very caring and kind teachers. I love going to school every day as I get to study and play with my school friends.

School education stimulates curiosity in young minds and equips them with tools that make them better and successful human beings. ‘My School Essay for Grade 1’ can be used as a reference for primary students to understand the importance of attending school. Creating a composition on ‘My School’ can help a child value education in the school curriculum, respect teachers, cultivate discipline, learn to share, care for friends, and become responsible citizens of tomorrow.

A school is considered to be a second home for all kids. Learning in school is a process that requires instruments facilitating growth in a child’s mental and physical ability, along with the way they deal with different situations in life. Thus, an essay on their school can be one of the best foundations for developing essay writing skills in kids.

My Best Friend Essay for Class 1 Kids Essay On My Family for Class 1 Children How to Write An Essay On Holi for Class 1, 2 and 3 Kids

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Essay for Class 1 Kids | Most Common Essay Writing Topics & Ideas for Class 1

Creative Essay writing is one of the most efficient ways for Kids these days to help them grow overall. Thus, we advise you to encourage your kids to learn how to write Essays On Different Topics. To help you we have come up with Essay for Class 1 Kids on Frequently Asked Topics. You can access any of the Essay Topics for Class 1 and read it to write Essays of your own. We have provided a list of Simple Essays in English for 1st Grade Kids all in one place.

List of Essay Writing Topics for Class 1

Grade 1 Essays for the most common topics are provided in a simple and easy language by subject experts. Writing an Essay will engage students in activity and inspires them to use their imagination. It is necessary to encourage students to learn Essay Writing Skills which contributes to their overall personality development at an early age. Simply tap on the respective topic you want to have an idea and know different categories of essays.

• My School Essay for Class 1
• My Best Friend Essay for Class 1
• Essay On Cow For Class 1
• My Family Essay For Class 1
• My Parents Essay For Class 1
• My Father Essay For Class 1
• My Dream House Essay For Class 1
• My Mother Essay For Class 1
• My Teacher Essay For Class 1
• Myself Essay For Class 1
• 10 Lines On Rainy Day For Class 1
• My School Bag Essay For Class 1
• My Garden Essay For Class 1
• My Book Essay For Class 1
• Essay On Mango For Class 1
• My Brother Essay In English For Class 1
• Essay On My Grandmother For Class 1 Kids
• My Favourite Flower Essay For Class 1 Kids
• Essay on Picnic with Family for Class 1 Kids
• Essay on My Favourite Season Summer for Class 1

FAQs on Essay for Class 1

1. How do you write an attractive Essay?

Powerful Introduction and Conclusion are necessary for an Attractive Essay. Grab the user’s attention with a nice opening statement and finish it with a thesis statement. A Closing Statement is also mandatory for an attractive essay.

2. Where do I get Important Essays for Class 1?

You can find Important Essays for Class 1 on our page via the quick links. Tap on the respective topic you want to learn and read it.

3. Where can I learn and Practice Writing Essays?

You can learn and practice writing essays at Worksheetsbuddy.com a trusted and reliable portal for any kind of Essay.

We as a team believed that the information shared regarding Essays for Class 1 has helped you with enough essay writing ideas. If you want any topic to be added to the list of essays in English feel free to ask us and we are open taking your suggestions. Stay connected to avail latest updates on Essays of Most Common Topics for students.

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My School Essay for Class 1

My school essay in english for class 1 students.

Creative writing is never easy. It is one of those skills that one can only acquire by practising and hard work. This is why schools introduce essay writing from a very young age. Essay writing is an exercise that helps students to notice things around them and use that to work on essays. This also results in the student improving his or her English reading and writing skills.

If you want to practice writing essays too, then you should start with my school essay in English. Ideally, this essay should help the reader more about your school and the sort of activities that you engage in while you are at your school.

My School Essay - 10 Lines for Class 1

If you have trouble writing my school paragraph essay, then there is also a tip you can follow. It is suggested that before writing the entire paragraph, you should make some lines or points about your school. We have created a similar list and that list is mentioned below.

My school is one of the most popular and highly rated schools in the community.

The building of my school is very beautiful, green, and spacious. It is well equipped with several objects required for proper schooling.

There is a huge playground in my school. I play many outdoor games in that playground.

I play with my friends at school. We also study together.

I have a class teacher and several subject teachers who are very kind and talented. They always help me learn new things.

At my school, we also celebrate several functions and festivals. This is all done with great pomp and show.

I also read books in my school library. The school library is very huge.

There is also a separate game and physical education period that all students get at my school.

There are also laboratories at my school. All science and social science laboratories are well equipped.

I love going to my school every morning because I learn new things with my friends.

These are my school's 10 lines that you can later convert into paragraphs. These paragraphs will serve as the essay and will help you score good marks.

My School Paragraph in English for Class 1 Students

School is one of the most essential parts of all our lives. My school is the most famous in our town. We have Class 1 to Class 12 in our school. My school is very spacious and has a big ground. It has beautiful classrooms and it is my second home where I spend most of my time. My classroom is well decorated with a lot of pictures and motivating speeches. We have a lot of indoor and outdoor games in our school. They teach us many activities such as dancing, singing, karate and drawing.

We also have inter-school activities, in which we participate and win prizes. My school also has a huge library which has many books for us to read. I play and study together with my friends at school. We celebrate all the various functions like Independence day, Republic day, teachers and annual day. The celebrations at our school are grand and it is a great show. 

We have a well-equipped science lab in our school which has all the required tools. My teachers are very caring and kind towards everyone. Every week we have one physical activity class where we play games such as Koko, volleyball, throwball and basketball. Every month they check our height and weight and keep a track of it. 

We also have a hobby class, where we learn arts and crafts, swimming and can also master any sports from our teachers. Every year my school also takes us to a picnic or for a trip. They will take us to places like the zoo, museum and amusement parks. I like all my friends at school and I love my school. 

We always happily participate in all extracurricular activities such as singing, dancing, quiz competition, speeches, essay writing, tabloids, and sports events. The school administration also encourages and motivates us very much to be more active in extracurricular activities. We have a school bus which picks and drops us at our house. We have a lot of fun even on the bus with my friends. 

My school teaches me how to behave, self-discipline, public speaking and many other things. Most importantly, they taught me how to face failure with grace. We have National Credit Corp (NCC) in our school. After we complete the camp of NCC we will be provided with an ‘A’ certificate. This also helps us further in many ways. 

After every exam, they give us a progress report where we can check our grades and this is also a kind of performance management for us. We get to know where we are exactly lagging to build up ourselves. We have a computerised lab, where we get to learn various things over our syllabus. Our school conducts a drill session twice a week. We have a big auditorium where we assemble for prayers.

How to write an Effective Essay for Class 1?

Essay writing or creative writing is an important skill that a student must learn early in class. It is an important element in the English language and students will be learning it for the rest of their school life. To make sure that students write a good essay, it is necessary to practice a lot and work hard.

For Class 1 students, creative writing is an open and fun activity that will stimulate their minds and help them learn new ways to write better sentences. Students will enjoy writing essays if they are given the freedom to get creative with their essay writing. It is highly advised to help students learn from their mistakes and to let them know that it’s okay. Essay writing is a fun activity and students can try new forms of creative writing with it.

Other essays for Class 1 students are:

Essay on My Best Friend for Class 1

Essay on Cow For Class 1

Essay on  My Family For Class 1

Essay on My Parents For Class 1

Essay on My  Father For Class 1

Essay on My Teacher For Class 1

Essay on MySelf For Class 1

Essay on My Garden For Class 1

Essay on My Book For Class 1

Essay on Mango For Class 1

Essay on My Favourite Bag For Class 1 Kids

Common Tips to write Essays for Class 1

Strong Introduction: For an effective essay for Class 1, it is important to start strong. Nothing like a strong introduction to getting the teachers moving. The content of the essay is always influenced by how the starting is. So an important thing to do to make sure that the essay is nice is to think about all the ways that one can start the essay. 

Strong Conclusion: Just like the strong introduction, students should also make sure that their conclusion is strong enough. With a nice introduction and conclusion, they will be making their essay effective and can also score high marks. The conclusion is important because the essay ending on a good note is also a hint that the essay contains good arguable points and this will increase the overall tone of the essay. 

FAQs on My School Essay for Class 1

1. How to write an effective essay for Class 1?

To write an effective essay, students must first understand the topic very well. When they are sure about the topic, they can then work on a strong introduction to make sure that the essay is starting well. To creatively express the information, students should also make valid points with a strong conclusion. Strong conclusions are the way to go when you want the essay to be overall good. 

2. How do I learn to write essays?

Students of Class 1 can learn how to write essays by working with their friends too. To write a good essay, students should practise a lot and work hard. It is okay to make mistakes but it is important to learn well from your mistakes so that they don't repeat them in the exams. All the essays for Class 1 can be downloaded on the Vedantu website for free. Students can make good use of these resources and use those content to practice well for their exams. 

3. How many essays are there for Class 1?

There are a few essays for Class 1. Students should focus on only one essay at a time and make sure to complete it before moving on to the next one. Some of the essays for Class 1 are: - 

Essay on My School for Class 1

Cow Essay For Class 1

Essay on My Family For Class 1

Essay on My Father For Class 1

Essay on My Dream House For Class 1

Essay  on My Mother For Class 1

Essay on Myself For Class 1

Class 1 10 Lines On Rainy Day

Essay on My School Bag For Class 1

4. How to score good marks in an essay for Class 1?

Students can score good marks in essays for Class 1 by practising as much as possible. It is important to try and practice a lot and make sure to use all the key points when writing an essay. The necessary points to keep in mind are that students must start with a good introduction, and cover all the points in the content and finish off with a meaningful conclusion. By making sure that the introduction and conclusion are proper, there are more chances that the students can score good marks. 

5. Is essay writing important?

Essay writing is very important because it will help the students a lot to think critically and express their ideas. By learning how to write essays effectively, students can practice more forms and they will have the means to express and share their thoughts. It is also important in the English subject because a lot of questions require the students to write a well thought out essay as an answer. To prepare them for their English exams, essay writing is a very important skill to learn. 

6. I want help writing my essay. Can Vedantu help?

We at Vedantu are always ready to provide students with all the academic help that they need. This is why if you want help in writing essays, then you can always rely on us at Vedantu. We provide creative writing classes and English lessons to all students that you can enrol in. If there are specific questions, then you can post those questions on the Vedantu platform and one of our in-house academic experts will reply with the correct answer.

7. I need to improve my English writing skills. How can I do that?

Every student should know that it is not easy to improve their English writing skills. However, with the right kind of dedication and help, you can achieve this task. You can enrol in online classes or practice on your own and post your questions on the Vedantu platform. If you need any other help, you can also directly contact us.

Kids-learning • Class 1

Free Printable Creative Writing Worksheets for 1st Class

Creative Writing: Discover a world of imagination with our free printable Reading & Writing worksheets for Class 1 students. Enhance their skills and spark their creativity with these fun resources.

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Explore printable Creative Writing worksheets for 1st Class

Creative Writing worksheets for Class 1 are an excellent resource for teachers looking to engage their students in the world of fiction writing. These worksheets provide a variety of activities that help students develop their reading and writing skills while fostering a love for storytelling. By incorporating different elements of fiction writing, such as character development, setting, and plot, these worksheets allow young learners to explore their creativity and imagination. Additionally, these Class 1 worksheets focus on improving students' grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, which are essential components of effective writing. Teachers can utilize these creative writing worksheets to supplement their lesson plans and provide a fun, interactive way for students to practice their reading and writing skills.

Quizizz is a fantastic platform that offers a wide range of educational resources, including Creative Writing worksheets for Class 1, to help teachers enhance their students' learning experience. This platform not only provides engaging and interactive worksheets but also allows teachers to create quizzes and games that can be customized to suit the needs of their students. By incorporating Quizizz into their lesson plans, teachers can effectively track their students' progress in reading and writing, as well as other subjects. The platform's user-friendly interface and extensive library of resources make it an invaluable tool for educators looking to provide their Class 1 students with a comprehensive and enjoyable learning experience. With Quizizz, teachers can ensure that their students develop a strong foundation in fiction writing and other essential skills needed for academic success.

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597 Best Creative Writing Classes in 2024

Showing 597 courses that match your search.

Creative Writing Course: Memoir & Life Writing

Sydney Community College

Put simply, life experience, combined with a desire to write, qualifies you to tell your own story. Our experiences shape us and inform our world view, and nobody navigates life without struggle. Our personal circumstances, our observations of the world, and our personalities make us all unique individuals, and therefore the narratives of our lives are just as unique.

Website: https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/course/WRMM

Categories: Essay, Nonfiction, and Memoir

Start date:

August, 2024

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

TV Structure for Pilot Writing

Writing Pad

In this one-day structure clinic, successful TV writer Farhan Arshad (Co-EP, FRASIER, UPLOAD, 3 Pilots) will help you apply the toolset of the scribe to root your story in a clearly defined genre, give it a rock-solid spine and compelling arcs that launch your pilot firmly into series.

Website: https://writingpad.com/classes/online-tv-structure-for-pi...

Categories: Fiction and Screenplay

Craft Memorable Characters

The Writing Salon

This two-week class is fast-paced and fun; it’s a mix of brief lectures followed by individual and team writing exercises where you get to apply the skills you’re learning right away.

Website: https://www.writingsalons.com/event/craft-memorable-chara...

Categories: Book, Fiction, and Short Story

How to Write a Novel

Your story matters. Unlock your potential with daily video lessons from bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley, and finish your first draft in just 3 months. Learn more →

Turning Family Gossip and Tales into Short Stories and Novels

Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute

Our lives are rich with stories passed on from families and friends. How do you decide what's material for a short story or a novel that anyone outside your family will want to read? In this generative writing intensive, we'll engage in writing exercises that help us explore this question.

Website: https://slc.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.Class...

Categories: Memoir and Nonfiction

Write Great Dialogue

Writer's Digest University

Dialogue can be one of the most interesting parts of a book to read, but only if it is done right. Sharpen your writing skills and challenge yourself to craft engaging, yet believable dialogue that will keep your readers interested.

Website: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/write-grea...

Categories: Fiction, Book, and Short Story

March, 2024

The Novel Opening

While a sharp query goes a long way to inviting in the agent and editor, even that won’t pique their curiosity if they skip ahead to the novel start and the pages don’t deliver. How can you produce an infallible story opening?

Website: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/the-novel-...

Categories: Book, Fiction, and Publishing

One-day Travel Writing Workshop

Travel Writing Workshop

Led by Peter Carty, this one-day workshop in central London, also available online, caters to beginners and journalists alike, aiming to equip them with practical skills for travel writing. The workshop, which includes sessions from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, covers topics like selecting travel subjects, research skills, prose improvement, and getting published, with a fee of £155 including post-workshop support​​​​​​​​.

Website: https://www.travelwritingworkshop.co.uk/about-the-travel-...

Categories: Travel

Open all year round

Quilting Together Your Scraps and Pieces of Writing

Anyone else have scraps of writing just sitting in the Google drive or an overstuffed notebook? What do you do with them all? These pieces do all have something in common; you wrote them and you like them, so we are going to have an old fashioned quilting bee.

Website: https://www.writespacehouston.org/creative-writing.html

Categories: Book, Fiction, Essay, Nonfiction, and Poetry

Write That Novel!

San Diego Writers

Will 2024 be the year you finally write that novel you’ve been dreaming about? This eight-week online novel writing course will walk you through the process step by step. Each week, the focus will be on a technical aspect of novel writing.

Website: https://writeyourstorynow.org/classes-workshops/2024-05-0...

Categories: Book and Fiction

Write Away Day: Sunday, April 14

The Writing Barn

We’re going above and beyond the experience of spending the day writing at a café—enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and water, chat with local creatives and maybe even find a new writing partner and friend!

Website: https://thewritingbarn.com/class/write-away-day-april-14-...

Categories: Nonfiction and Fiction

April, 2024

The Three D’s of Fiction: Description, Dialogue & Drama

In this three-week class, you’ll build a story up from the basics using the Three D’s to fashion fully imagined, engaging worlds your readers can live in. You’ll have an opportunity to flesh out a story or character you’ve already envisioned or experiment with brand-new story ideas or set-ups.

Website: https://www.writingsalons.com/event/three-ds-fiction-spri...

Sweet & Savory, Salty & Bitter: Memories & Experiences with Food

In this three-hour workshop, we will approach personal essay through memories and experiences with food. In these essays, you can explore your relationship with particular people or with a gathering or event in your life. We will practice several techniques for connecting with food to craft a satisfying personal essay.

Categories: Essay, Nonfiction, and Food

What are the 5 best creative writing classes?

Congratulations! Deciding to learn how to creative write is often the hardest step of all. Now it's time for a choice that's almost just as difficult: picking which creative writing class you want to take in a market that's getting more crowded by the day.  

That’s why we built this directory of the best creative writing courses — so that you can more easily filter through all of the selections out there. But in case you don't have time to dive into them all, here are five of the best creative writing classes for you to take a look at. 

1. Reedsy Learning

💲 Cost: Free 👨‍🏫 Type: Email lessons

If you’re struggling to find time for creative writing classes, Reedsy Learning is for you. These bite-sized lessons are emailed to you once a day for ten days and can be read in five minutes or less. But don’t let their compact size fool you — each lesson is packed with practical tips, links to additional resources, and enough exercises to keep your skills sharp. There are also courses on editing, marketing, and publishing for when you’re ready to take your creative writing to the next level.

2. Gotham Writers’ Workshop

💲 Cost: $165 - $409 (plus registration fees) 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, live Zoom classes, assignments, critique

The largest adult-education writing school in the US, Gotham Writers has been helping budding authors hone their skills since the 1990s. Based in New York City, they offer in-person classes as well as a variety of online options for students all over the globe. With self-paced courses, live Zoom lectures, write-ins, and several free events per term, Gotham Writers emulates the university feel wherever possible.

💲 Cost: $0 - $109 👨‍🏫 Type: Lectures (videos, slides, and text)

Founded in 2010, Udemy is a massive online open course (MOOC) platform, created to provide an alternative to in-person, university learning. Their primary audience is made up of professionals and students — some of their courses even offer credit toward technical certifications. Their creative writing courses are broad and geared mainly toward beginners, through there are some intermediate courses that get into specific niches.

💲 Cost: $0 - $998 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, online assignments

Another MOOC, edX was started as a collaboration between Harvard and MIT, but these days boasts classes from a wide variety of respected universities. Like Udemy, some of their courses also offer college credits. edX’s courses are weekly, consisting of short videos, interactive learning exercises, and online discussion groups. Their writing courses cover everything from novels to stand-up comedy to digital content. There are also related courses in journalism, composition, and grammar, among other specializations.

5. Coursera

💲 Cost: Free (Creative Writing Specialization) 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, online assignments

One last MOOC for our list, this time founded by several Computer Science professors from Stanford University. But don’t let its history fool you — Coursera offers humanities classes as much as science and technology. In addition to general courses, Coursera also offers specializations, a series of courses that work together much like what you’d find in a university.

I have a long list of creative writing courses. Now what?

If you've narrowed down a list of writing classes in English you like, then it's time to commit to one of them. But how do you know which is the right fit for your needs and lifestyle?

Before committing to one of them, we recommend considering some of these questions.

• What skill levels does the writing course cover?
• What’s the price of the writing course? Does it match your budget?
• How long does the writing course run for?
• Who is the instructor of the course? Can you verify their credentials?
• Is the writing course remote or in-person?

More creative writing resources

Whether you’re a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to how to get a headstart on creative writing! 

Free online materials

• Creative Writing Prompts (resource)
• Book Title Generator (resource)
• Character Name Generator (resource)
• Plot Generator (resource)
• How to Write a Novel (blog post)
• How to Write a Book Proposal (blog post)
• How to Edit a Book (blog post)

Recommended books

• For writers in the UK:  Writers' & Artists' Yearbook  
• For writers in the US:  Writer’s Market 2020

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

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Creative Writing Specialization

Craft Your Story Like the Great Writers. Craft an original story that will absorb a reader’s interest from the beginning to end.

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Instructors: Salvatore Scibona +3 more

Instructors

Financial aid available

124,640 already enrolled

Specialization - 5 course series

(5,072 reviews)

Skills you'll gain

• Short Story Writing
• Fiction Writing
• Copy Editing

Details to know

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Advance your subject-matter expertise

• Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
• Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
• Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
• Earn a career certificate from Wesleyan University

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

This Specialization covers elements of three major creative writing genres: short story, narrative essay, and memoir. You will master the techniques that good writers use to compose a bracing story, populated with memorable characters in an interesting setting, written in a fresh descriptive style. You will analyze and constructively evaluate peer writing. In the Capstone, you will draft, rewrite, and complete a substantial original story in the genre of your choosing.

Our courses are designed for anyone from the aspiring short story writer to established novelist. Whether you have a finished novel sitting on your desk calling for a fresh look or have had the germ of an idea for a decade, this Specialization gives you tools to achieve your goal. Through 4 courses focused on a key aspect of writing, and taken in any order you choose , you will develop a stronger ability to not only refine your writing, but critique writing in general and find inspiration in the works you are already reading.

Thanks to our sponsors, upon completion of their first assignment, learners in each course will receive up to an 80% discount from Write-Bros and a 30% discount off their first purchase from Scrivener to use on their writing software. Additionally, learners who complete an assignment will receive 30% off membership at the online writing community Scribophile. For more information about our partners, see the FAQ below.

Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot

What you'll learn.

In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to perhaps the most elemental and often the most challenging element of story: plot. We will learn what keeps it moving, how it manipulates our feelings, expectations, and desires. We will examine the choices storytellers make to snag our imaginations, drag them into a fictional world, and keep them there. We will learn how to outline and structure a plot, discuss narrative arc, pacing and reversals and reveal the inevitable surprise: connecting the beginning, middle and end.

Creative Writing: The Craft of Character

At the center of a good story are the characters in it. In this course aspiring writers will discover how to build and bring to life complex, vivid and unforgettable characters. We will study the choices a writer makes to bring all characters to life on the page, and we will perform written exercises in order to develop a variety of writing and pre-writing techniques, in order to create a variety of characters. We will learn how to use our own life experiences, and the people we know (and how not to!). We will develop inner (thoughts and feelings) and outer (appearance, habits, behavior) lives for our characters and see how that can lead us to richer and more interesting stories. We will breathe life into our characters and let them surprise us.

Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description

In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to the techniques that masters of fiction use to ground a story in a concrete world. From the most realist settings to the most fantastical, writers will learn how to describe the physical world in sharp, sensory detail. We will also learn how to build credibility through research, and to use creative meditation exercises to deepen our own understanding of our story worlds, so that our readers can see all that we imagine.

Creative Writing: The Craft of Style

Your style is as unique and distinctive as your face, your voice, except that you can choose it, you can can work on it, enhance it. In this course we will introduce aspiring writers to the art of putting pressure on written language. We will study the use of metaphor and imagery, and demonstrate how clarity, grace, and inventiveness in word choice are imperative to a story’s success. Writers will emerge with the revision skills essential to all writers of good stories and good prose.

Capstone: Your Story

Everything comes together in the Capstone. You will draft a complete story, narrative essay, or memoir of 8–15 pages. With the advice of your peer readers, you will revise, rewrite, and complete it. The skills you’ve learned of plotting, setting, physical description, characterization, and stylistic clarity and innovation will culminate in an original work of art all your own. We’ll discuss the steps that professional writers take to bring their work into the public world. Along the way you’ll learn the patient habits of revision that make up the writer’s life.

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand. With our distinctive scholar-teacher culture, creative programming, and commitment to interdisciplinary learning, Wesleyan challenges students to explore new ideas and change the world. Our graduates go on to lead and innovate in a wide variety of industries, including government, business, entertainment, and science.

Industry partners

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to complete the specialization.

This Specialization will take 3-6 months to complete.

How often is each course in the Specialization offered?

The courses in this Specialization will be offered continually on demand. The capstone will be offered 4 times per year.

What background knowledge is necessary?

The Specialization courses will be rigorous and taught at the college level, but will be accessible to advanced high school students as well.

Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

No, courses do not need to be taken in a specific order - the courses have staggered opening times to allow you to jump in to whichever course fits your schedule best!

What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?

After completing this Specialization, students will be able to craft an original story, whether fictional or taken from life, that will absorb a reader’s interest from the beginning and hold it through the end.

Who are the instructors?

Each course is taught by an esteemed author and professor. Collectively, they have published over a dozen novels and won numerous awards, including features in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and O: The Oprah Magazine. More information about each author is provided in their individual biographies.

Who are the partners?

Write Brothers (www.write-bros.com) offers several different tools for writers to craft their stories in an environment dedicated to writing, including Dramatica Pro, Outline 4D, and Movie Magic Screenwriter. The software is designed to help with all phases of writing, from brainstorming to outlining to formatting.

Scrivener (https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php) is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. While it gives you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft.

Scribophile (www.scribophile.com) is a writing community focused on feedback, a central tenet of the Specialization you're embarking on here. Share your work, receive thoughtful critiques from other writers, improve your writing craft, and engage in a strong community of "the friendliest and most successful writing workshop online."

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

What is the refund policy?

If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy Opens in a new tab .

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Can I take the course for free?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid Opens in a new tab .

Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

This Specialization doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Specialization Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more.

More questions

Creative Writing Unit for High School Students

My creative writing unit for high school students allows for adaptations and for fun! With plenty of creative writing activities, you’ll have flexibility. 

If you are looking for a creative writing unit, I have ideas for you. When I taught middle school, I sprinkled such activities throughout the school year. As a high school teacher, though, I taught an entire creative writing course. With no textbook and very little established activities, I largely worked from a blank slate.

Which. . . turned out well. I love teaching creative writing!

ELA Specific Classes

Older students often can choose electives for their ELA classes, and Creative Writing is a popular class. I’ve condensed my ideas into one post, so I organized the ideas by creative nonfiction and fiction writing and added pictures to organize this information for you.

EDIT: This post about my creative writing unit for high school writers has exploded and is about three times as long as a normal blog post. If you’d like to skip around to get inspiration for teaching creative writing, you can use the pictures and headings as guidance.

ANOTHER NOTE: I attempted to outline the days I spend on each topic, but several factors went into my estimates. First, each class differs in what they enjoy and what they dislike. If a class dislikes a specific topic, we will wrap it up and move on. If a class has fun with an assignment or needs more time to work, the days might vary.

What are the key elements of a creative writing unit?

Key elements of a creative writing unit include introducing different writing genres, teaching basic writing techniques, encouraging imagination and creativity, providing writing prompts and exercises, offering constructive feedback and revision opportunities, and fostering a supportive writing community.

How can we organize such activities?

Starting with creative nonfiction has worked for my classes, small pieces like paragraphs. I believe the success is because young writers can write what they know about. Then we can switch to fiction for the second quarter. Again, the days spent on each assignment varies, and I honestly do not stress about creative nonfiction being nine weeks and fiction being nine weeks.

All of the material listed below is in my newly updated Creative Writing Bundle . The pieces are sold separately, but that creative writing unit includes bonus material and a discount.

Ok, settle in! Here are my ideas about teaching creative writing with high school students.

First Week of School for a Creative Writing Unit

The first day of school , we complete activities that build awareness into the classroom environment about “creativity.” Do not shy away from setting a foundation of support and understanding as you engage with young writers. During my first creative writing classes, I neglected to spend time establishing expectations and community. The following semester, the time invested early paid off with engaged students later.

Those first days, we also discuss:

• Published vs. private writing. I tell writers they may share whatever they like with me and the class. As a community of writers, we will share with each other. Most of our writing will be public, but some will be private.
• A community of writers. Writing and sharing ideas requires maturity and acceptance. Not everyone will agree is largely my motto (about negotiables, not human rights), and I stress with students that they may read and provide feedback with topics in which they do not agree.
• Routines. Writers write. That sentence might sound silly, but some people believe that humans are born with a skill to write or they are not. Writing well takes practice. The practice can be short and unconnected to a larger product. I typically begin each week with a quick writing prompt , and we share our responses, which of course, builds that community of writers.

Whatever you are teaching—a creative writing unit or a creative writing class—spend some time establishing your expectations and goals with your students. Laying a foundation is never a waste of time! In fact, I believe so much in the power of the first week of a creative writing class that I have a blog post devoted to the concept.

Time: 2-3 days

First weeks: creative nonfiction

Creative nonfiction seems to be the genre of our time. Memoirs, essays, and hermit-crab essays flood bookstores and journals.

When students read captions on social media, profiles of their favorite artists, or long Threads, they are reading creative nonfiction. Not only should students be able to dissect this form of writing, but they should also be able to write in our society’s preferred genre.

Below, I’ve outlined creative nonfiction activities that work with teenagers.

Nonfiction Narrative Writing

Writing narratives (and meeting those standards) are trickier with older students. As a teacher, I struggle: Students will often tell me deep, meaningful, and personal parts of their lives, and I am supposed to grade those writings!

When students write a narrative , I address this situation immediately. Share with writers that their narrative ideas are strong (I believe that to be the truth!), and that in no way are we grading their ideas. Rather, we want their excellent narratives to be communicated in the best light; therefore, we will provide guidance about the structures of narrative writing.

The topic for a nonfiction narrative varies. Often, students write about themselves as learners or as community members. Framing students in a positive way allows them to explore their strengths in life and to build confidence as writers.

Time: 7-9 days

Object Essay

An object essay might sound like a “blah” type of assignment, but the simplicity allows students to push past their normal experiences. An object essay is simple, so they can experiment with their writing.

What object? I have assigned this essay several ways. For instance, I have brought in a very plain object (like a rock) and had students explain it. I like this approach because students can work together to discover the best descriptions.

Another way, my preferred way, is to allow students to choose the object. Students write about a coffee cup, water bottle, car keys, or bus pass. When students choose, the essays are richer with meaning.

Neither approach disappoints me, though! With a plain object, students must stretch themselves to be creative. Judge what your class needs and get students writing!

Time: 3-4 days

How-to Paper

No, not a “how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich” paper. A fun and meaningful how-to paper can encourage classes as they see themselves as experts.

What I like about a how-to paper is students get to be the expert in their paper. Finding a used vehicle to buy? Shopping for a formal event? Saving money? Cleaning a closet? Selling at consignment stores? Each writer has an area in which they shine, and a how-to paper allows them to share their knowledge with others. They write about “behind the scenes” or little known secrets.

Of all the creative writing activities, I assign the how-to paper early. It builds confidence in young writers.

Time: 5 days

Sell this Apple

Why an apple? When I wanted students to creatively sell something, I searched for something they could all have in common but sell in different ways. I wanted classes to have one object but to witness the multiple approaches for advertising. Apples (which I could also afford to bring to class) fit nicely.

What do students sell when they “sell an apple”?

• Dips for apples.
• Apples for preschool snacks.
• Charcuterie apple boards.
• Apple crisp.
• Red and green apple rainbows.

Basically, students can create a marketing plan for multiple age groups and other demographics. For instance, they can write a blog post about safety in cutting pieces for young children (and complete some research in the process). They can then “promote” a local apple orchard or fruit stand.

Another advertisement is an apple pie recipe for a Thanksgiving brochure for a supermarket.

When I gave students something simple, like an apple, they ran with the idea. Then, we can share our ideas for selling apples.

A profile is difficult to write, so this assignment is normally my last assignment of the quarter. Before we switch to writing fiction, we apply all our concepts learned to writing a profile.

Profiles are more than summaries of the person. Writers must take an angle and articulate the person’s traits utilizing Showing vs. Telling. Of all creative writing assignments, the profile, might be the most difficult. I place it in the middle of the semester so that writers understand our goals in class but are not tired from the end of the semester.

Time: 10-12 days

Final weeks: fiction

Fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, romance: Students consume a variety of fiction via books, movies, and shows. Fictional creative writing activities invite young writers into worlds they already consume.

Below, I’ve outlined some that work with teenagers.

Alternative Point-of-View

Grab some googly eyes or some construction paper and send students loose. (A few guidelines help. Should students remove the googly eyes from the principal’s office door?) Have them adhere the eyes to an inanimate object to make a “being” who learns a lesson. They should snap a picture and write a quick story about the learned lesson.

What type of lesson? Perhaps an apple with a bruise learns that it still has value and is loved with blemishes. Maybe a fire extinguisher realizes that its purpose is important even if it isn’t fancy.

Honestly, the creativity with the googly eyes adhered to inanimate objects is so simple, but it always is my favorite event of the semester. I officially call it the “ alternative point-of-view ” activity, but “googly eyes” is how my writers remember it.

Time: 2 days

Create a Superhero with a Template

A superhero does not need to wear a cape or fancy shoes. Rather, in this creative writing activity, students build a superhero from a normal individual. When I created the activity, I envisioned students writing about a librarian or volunteer, but students often write about a grandparent (adorable).

Since students enjoy graphic novels, I wanted students to experience making a graphic novel. The colorful sheets allow students to add their ideas and words to pages that fit their messages.

After students create a comic book, they will also write a brief marketing campaign for a target audience. Learning about who would buy their graphic novel typically leads them to parents and librarians which should lead students to discover the importance of reading. The advertising campaign additionally serves as a reflective component for the initial activity.

Product Review

Product reviews and question/answer sections are a genre all their own. SO! Have students write reviews and questions/answers for goofy products . Students will find a product and write several reviews and questions/answers.

This quick activity lends itself to extension activities. Once, a teacher emailed me and said her school bought some of the goofy products for a sort of “sharing” day with the school. Since students have access to pictures of the item, you can make a “catalog” for the class out of a Canva presentation and share it with them and your colleagues.

Here are a few examples:

• Banana slicer .
• Horse head .
• Wolf shirt.

Aside from the alternative point-of-view activity, the product reviews remain my personal favorite part of a creative writing unit. Writers find random products and write goofy workups that they share with the class.

Time: 3 days

Character Creation

Creating a well-rounded and interesting character requires prep work. The brainstorming part of the writing process, the pre-writing? We spend lots of time in that area as we create fleshed out characters.

I like to start with a multiple-choice activity. We begin my imagining the main character. Next, students take a “quiz” as the character. How does the character eat? What sort of movies does the character enjoy? hate? After the multiple-choice activity, they can derive what those pieces explain about their characters. Finally, they can begin to brainstorm how those pieces will develop in their story.

Flash Fiction

Flash fiction is a simple, short story. Writers might cheer when they hear I expect a 300-word story, but often, they discover it is a challenging assignment from class. A large part of a creative writing unit is giving students a variety of lengths so they can practice their skills under different circumstances.

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is a popular genre, and classes are familiar with many popular historical fiction books. I find it helpful to have several books displayed to inspire students. Additionally, I read from the books to demonstrate dialogue, pacing, theme, and more.

Since my historical fiction activity takes at least two weeks to accomplish, we work on that tough standard for narrative writing. To that end, these activities target the hardest components:

• Pacing within a narrative.
• Developing a theme .
• Building imagery .
• Creating external conflicts in a story.
• Establishing a setting .

First, I used pictures to inspire students, to get them brainstorming. Second, I created those activities to solve a problem that all writers (no matter the age!) have: Telling vs. Showing. I found that my writers would add dialogue that was heavy on explanation, too “world building” for their narrative. The story sounded forced, so I took a step back with them and introduced mini-activities for practicing those skills.

Third, the above creative writing activities can EASILY be assignments independently for short and fun assignments. I teach them with historical fiction because that activity is at the end of the semester when my expectations are higher, and because students enjoy writing historical fiction so they are invested.

But! You can easily add them to another narrative activity.

Time: 10-12 days 

A clean tabloid! Tabloids are largely replaced by online social sharing creators, so they are fun to review with students. Students might not be familiar with tabloids at the grocery store checkout, but they are familiar with catchy headlines. They will be completely ready to write a tabloid !

To ensure a clean tabloid, I ask students to write about a children’s show, something scandalous happening from a cartoon. The results are hysterical.

Time: 4 days

Children’s Book

I have two introductory activities for the children’s book. One, students answer questions about a mentor text (another children’s book). Two, students evaluate the language of a specific book to start them in their brainstorming.

My students write their children’s book as a final activity in class as it requires all the elements of creative writing. When a school requires me to give a final exam, students write a reflection piece on their children’s books. If you are looking for a finale for your creative writing unit, a children’s book is a satisfying ending as students have a memorable piece.

Time 10-12 weeks

Final note on creative writing activities and bundle

I intended for this post to inspire you and give you ideas for teaching either a creative writing unit or a creative writing class in ELA. My first time through teaching creative writing, I worried that my lessons would flop and that students would not find their groove with me. I found success, but with modifications, I formed a cohesive semester.

The first time through, I did not frontload information and expectations. (Spending time at the start of class is my biggest message! Please establish groundwork with students!) I also did not provide concrete enough guidelines so students understood the differences between the assignments. After a few semesters, I developed my creative writing unit . With a variety of activities and an appropriate amount of structure, I found success, and I hope you do too.

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Levelland HS senior recognized for hard work on the field and in the classroom, local middle school teacher awarded for creative writing

Tell me something good.

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - A Levelland High School senior baseball player was recognized for his hard work on the field and in the classroom and a Hutchison Middle School teacher was awarded for his success in creative writing in today’s KCBD News Channel 11′s Tell Me Something Good.

Congratulations to Levelland High School senior Anson McMahan! He was named to the Texas High School Coach’s Association First Team Academic All-State Team. Which means he’s working hard on the field and in the classroom.

We also want to highlight Hutchinson Middle School’s creative writing teacher Nathan Dahlstrom. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, in Oklahoma City, honored him with the Juvenile Book Award for his book ‘Heartwood Mountain’. It’s the eighth book in the ‘Wilder Good’ series.

For those with good news to share, go to the Community section at KCBD.com and click on Tell Me Something Good to fill out the entry form. Please include photos or video so the station can share the good news.

Copyright 2024 KCBD. All rights reserved.

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3 Types of Creative Blocks, and How to Overcome Them Science can help you understand the walls you're running into, when you struggle to start or finish a project.

By Amber Rae • Apr 24, 2024

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

I had every intention of writing this article yesterday morning. And then again, last night. And then this morning. But my team needed me, I had a couple of fires to put out, and honestly, I just didn't really feel like doing it.

When I finally sat down to write, I realized what was going on: Procrastination was rearing its head. Or, as I like to call it, "Fear in overalls." Procrastination is a type of fear that has good intentions but lacks consistent follow-through, and it's easy to slip into. It's the part of us that says, "It's all good, I can do this later, I'm not really in the mood, I'm waiting for inspiration to strike."

As a bestselling author of three books, and a writing mentor who's supported thousands, I've learned a thing or two about why we don't start or finish projects — why ideas nudge us for years but rarely see the light of day.

Whether I'm supporting a founder with a track record of success, a New York Times bestselling author, or an aspiring writer who's just picking up the pen, creative blocks plague us all. Through my work, I've identified three types of creative blocks and how to overcome them.

Creative Block #1: Procrastination — "I'll do this later after I do that other thing."

Maybe you're reading this right now to avoid something else that you need or want to be doing. If so, you may be dealing with procrastination. But before you get down on yourself, let's look closer at the real cause. Unlike what many of us learned, procrastination is not a sign that we're lazy, weak, or lacking in motivation. Procrastination, from a psychological perspective, is also a survival function.

When we're stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out, or dealing with any perceived threat — which could be, "I really want this to go well but the outcome is uncertain," or "I want to put myself out there but I'm not sure how it'll be received," — our nervous system moves into a fight/flight/freeze response. In other words: we procrastinate.

Understanding the science of this can help us have compassion for ourselves—and others—and also decide what to do about it.

I learned about "micro-yeses" from my friend Britt Frank, a neuropsychotherapist and the author of The Science of Stuck . A micro-yes is the smallest next step you can take—a step so small, it seems almost ridiculous to call it "a step."

So, if you're wanting to write an article but you're stalling — like I was — the next micro-yes is not to schedule an hour to write. That might spook your nervous system and send you into further delays. In my case, my micro-yeses were:

• Get my tush in the chair.
• Write one bad sentence.
• Write another.

And voila, the brain stopped perceiving threats, my nervous system was more regulated, and I cranked out the article. I was on my way, and micro-yeses will help you get going, too.

Creative Block #2: Perfectionism — "This isn't good enough."

If procrastination is "fear is overalls," perfectionism is, as Elizabeth Gilbert put it, "fear in fancy clothes." Of all the blocks out there, perfectionism—and the pressure to be great right away—is one that will stop a project dead in its tracks before it ever has a chance to flourish.

When I landed my first book deal, my publisher asked me if I could write the book in three months. As crazy as that sounded, my book was titled Choose Wonder Over Worry , so instead of worrying about how unrealistic that deadline sounded, I asked myself: I wonder how I can get this done?

I cleared my calendar, flew across the world for a writing retreat, and then, as I sat down to write, I found myself paralyzed by a voice inside my head that chimed in every ten seconds to tell me, "That's a very bad sentence."

After consulting with a mentor (and nearly losing my mind), I was reminded that there is no such thing as a great first draft. In fact, my goal was to be a "bad writer" and write terrible first drafts, so that I'd get to the stage of having so-so second drafts and better third drafts.

That strategy helped me finish my book—and it's one that's helped many others in my signature writing workshop, On The Page . Revision is essential and will strengthen your work—but first you need to get those "pen miles" down.

Creative Block #3: Imposter Syndrome — " Who am I to call myself a writer? Am I going to get found out?"

If procrastination is "fear in overalls" and perfectionism is, "fear in fancy clothes," then imposter syndrome is "fear in hiding."

Whenever you're putting yourself out there, or trying something new, there will be people who will be more experienced, or knowledgable, or renowned than you. It's a simple fact of life. Whether you are just starting out in your career, or have decades' worth of accolades, there is always a fear that people who have achieved more will say: You don't know what you're talking about, or, who are you to think you can do this?

In fact, sometimes the more successful you are, and the more you've accomplished, the more likely you are to feel imposter syndrome. It's like the old saying attributed to Aristotle: "The more you know, the more you know you don't know." Case in point, I have a client who got a significant book deal on a topic that she's a world-renowned expert on. She's been featured in dozens of publications, she has a thriving business in her field, and her book is a vehicle to make her message more accessible to more people. And yet, on one of our calls, she shared with me: "I hope I can one day call myself a writer."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, I'm not a writer like those other writers," she said. "Maybe if the book's a huge success."

That right there is where imposter syndrome thrives: between internal doubt, and the belief that external accolades will prove we are worthy. And the most brutal part of imposter syndrome is that even if we reach our vision of "ultimate success," it's still not enough.

So what to do about it? The solution to imposter syndrome is two-fold:

• Notice the critical voice inside your head that says, I'm not enough, I'm going to be found out, I don't deserve this, I have to work harder to prove myself — and remember that voice is an old and damaging story that you don't need to buy into anymore. Notice it, remember it's not you, and as uncomfortable as it might feel, choose a more empowering narrative, such as: I'm already enough.
• Celebrate the progress you've already made—including the mistakes. Focus on what you're learning, how you're growing, what you value, and what is meaningful to you. Don't get caught up in what you'll need to "someday" achieve so that you'll finally arrive. You've already arrived.

I know encountering blocks can feel unsettling. But once we name what we're experiencing, we can recognize it more easily, and then respond to it differently. Creative blocks are challenges, yes, but they do have science-backed solutions. Sometimes it starts with lowering our really high personal expectations, rolling up our sleeves, and having a little faith in the process.

Author, speaker and writing mentor

Amber Rae is an international bestselling author, speaker, and writing mentor, best known for her acclaimed works Choose Wonder Over Worry, The Answers Are Within You , and The Feelings Journal . Through her work as a writing mentor, Amber guides creatives and entrepreneurs to turn their mission and message into stories worth sharing. Amber's writings and work have been featured in The New York Times, TODAY, Forbes, and New York Magazine , and she has collaborated with companies such as Kate Spade, Meta, Microsoft and TED. Her signature writing program  On The Page  with Amber Rae helps people break through creative blocks and get writing.

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2024 duke english creative writing scholarship awards, april 23, 2024.

Quantá Holden | Duke English | Digital Communication Specialist

Duke English is delighted to share the 2024 Creative Writing Scholarships honorees. Each year, Duke English faculty members nominate undergraduate students for one of the Creative Writing Scholarships based on the exceptional work they submitted in one or more of their creative writing courses. The Creative Writing Committee selects the winners of the prestigious William M. Blackburn, Francis Pemberton, and Margaret Rose Knight Sanford Scholarships. Students nominated must be eligible for financial aid to receive these scholarships.

2024 Creative Writing Scholarship Recipients:

Frances Pemberton Scholarship Awarded to a junior or senior pursuing the study of creative writing.  This scholarship was created by the Trustees of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation in memory and in honor of Francis Pemberton's service to the Biddle Foundation.

Ryan Copeland , ‘25

Margaret Rose Knight Sanford Scholarship Awarded to a female student who demonstrates particular promise in creative writing.  This scholarship was established in recognition of the untiring efforts of Margaret Rose Knight Sanford on behalf of Duke University.

Ali Thursland , ‘24

William Blackburn Scholarship Recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of creative writing.  Established in 1962 by students and friends of Professor William Blackburn (1899-1969) who first began teaching creative writing at Duke.

Jocelyn Chin , ‘24 Sage Cooley , ‘25 Joshua Lee , ‘26 Rani Teddy , ‘26

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Taylor Swift's Teachers Recall What She Was Really Like in Elementary School: 'She Was Always Writing Poetry'

"She always was writing poetry — always — even in music class, even when she shouldn't," said Swift's music teacher

Taylor Swift  is making everyone proud!

Amid the release of her 11th studio album,  The Tortured Poets Department , CBS Philadelphia spoke with two of Swift's childhood teachers who said her love for music began at a very early age.

Barbara Kolvek, Swift's elementary school music teacher, told the outlet that the Grammy winner, 34, said she wanted to be a singer in second grade.

"She always was writing poetry — always — even in music class, even when she shouldn't," said Kolvek, who shared that she gave Swift "her very first singing solo."

Related: Taylor Swift Gives Fans a Glimpse Behind the Scenes of Making TTPD with 'Fortnight' Challenge Video

The now-retired educator was Swift's music teacher from first to fourth grade and told the news station the two kept in touch "for a while."

"I feel like maybe I gave her a little spark or encouragement to do what she was doing," Kolvek said.

Heather Brown, Swift's third-grade teacher, spoke about Swift's "special quality."

Related: Taylor Swift Explains the Meaning Behind 'Fortnight,' 'Clara Bow' and More The Tortured Poets Department Tracks

"You always remember every student from the quality they have. Taylor's quality was just being she was one of those students where people just drew to," Brown told CBS Philadelphia.

Brown told the outlet that although she still sends Swift a Christmas card every year even though "she probably doesn't get the messages anymore." Noting that everything Swift touches "turns to gold," she added that she is "just so excited to see what comes next."

"When she comes out on stage and everyone's screaming 'Taylor,' it's like, oh my gosh, like I was her teacher," Brown said.

Swift's childhood teachers have plenty to be proud of.

After the release of The Tortured Poets Department , Swift broke multiple Spotify records , including becoming the most streamed artist in one day and the artist with the most streamed album in one day.

Her new album also achieved over 300 million streams. Its first single, " Fortnight ," became the most-streamed song in a single day in the streaming platform's history.  

In an Instagram post celebrating its release, Swift described the album as "an anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions, and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time - one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure."

"This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up. There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted," continued Swift.

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

"This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it," she added. "And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry."

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By Kate Knibbs

How One Author Pushed the Limits of AI Copyright

Last October, I received an email with a hell of an opening line: “I fired a nuke at the US Copyright Office this morning.”

The message was from Elisa Shupe, a 60-year-old retired US Army veteran who had just filed a copyright registration for a novel she’d recently self-published. She’d used OpenAI's ChatGPT extensively while writing the book. Her application was an attempt to compel the US Copyright Office to overturn its policy on work made with AI, which generally requires would-be copyright holders to exclude machine-generated elements.

That initial shot didn’t detonate—a week later, the USCO rejected Shupe’s application—but she ultimately won out. The agency changed course earlier this month after Shupe appealed, granting her copyright registration for AI Machinations: Tangled Webs and Typed Words, a work of autofiction self-published on Amazon under the pen name Ellen Rae.

The novel draws from Shupe’s eventful life , including her advocacy for more inclusive gender recognition. Its registration provides a glimpse of how the USCO is grappling with artificial intelligence , especially as more people incorporate AI tools into creative work. It is among the first creative works to receive a copyright for the arrangement of AI-generated text.

“We’re seeing the Copyright Office struggling with where to draw the line,” intellectual property lawyer Erica Van Loon, a partner at Nixon Peabody, says. Shupe’s case highlights some of the nuances of that struggle—because the approval of her registration comes with a significant caveat.

The USCO’s notice granting Shupe copyright registration of her book does not recognize her as author of the whole text as is conventional for written works. Instead she is considered the author of the “selection, coordination, and arrangement of text generated by artificial intelligence.” This means no one can copy the book without permission, but the actual sentences and paragraphs themselves are not copyrighted and could theoretically be rearranged and republished as a different book.

The agency backdated the copyright registration to October 10, the day that Shupe originally attempted to register her work. It declined to comment on this story. “The Copyright Office does not comment on specific copyright registrations or pending applications for registration,” Nora Scheland, an agency spokesperson says. President Biden’s executive order on AI last fall asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to make recommendations on copyright and AI to the White House in consultation with the Copyright Office, including on the “scope of protection for works produced using AI.”

Although Shupe’s limited copyright registration is notable, she originally asked the USCO to open a more significant path to copyright recognition for AI-generated material. “I seek to copyright the AI-assisted and AI-generated material under an ADA exemption for my many disabilities,” she wrote in her original copyright application. Shupe believes fervently that she was only able to complete her book with the assistance of generative AI tools. She says she has been assessed as 100 percent disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs and struggles to write due to cognitive impairment related to conditions including bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and a brain stem malformation.

Amanda Hoover

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She is proud of the finished work and sees working with a text generator as a different but no less worthwhile method of expressing thoughts. “You don't just hit ‘generate’ and get something worthy of publishing. That may come in the future, but we're still far from it,” she says, noting that she spent upwards of 14 hours a day working on her draft.

After her initial registration was refused, Shupe connected with Jonathan Askin, founder of the Brooklyn Law Incubator and Policy Clinic at Brooklyn Law School, which takes pro bono cases centered on emerging tech and policy questions. Askin and Brooklyn Law student Sofia Vescovo began working on Shupe’s case and filed an appeal with the USCO in January.

The appeal built on Shupe’s argument about her disabilities, saying she should be granted copyright because she used ChatGPT as an assistive technology to communicate, comparing her use of OpenAI’s chatbot to an amputee using a prosthetic leg. The appeal claimed that the USCO “discriminated against her because of her disability.”

The Brooklyn Law appeal also claimed that Shupe should be granted copyright for compiling the book—that is, doing the work of selecting and organizing the snippets of AI-generated text. It provided an exhaustive log of how Shupe prompted ChatGPT, showing the custom commands she created and the edits she made.

It includes a side-by-side comparison of the unedited machine output and the final version of Shupe’s book. On a sentence level, she adjusted almost every line in some way, from changes in word choice to structure. One example describing a character in the novel: “Mark eyed her, a complex mix of concern and annoyance evident in his gaze” becomes “Mark studied her, his gaze reflecting both worry and irritation.”

The appeal cites another recent AI copyright decision about the graphic novel Zarya and the Dawn , which incorporates AI-generated images created with Midjourney. In February 2023, author Kris Kashtanova was granted copyright to the selection and arrangement of AI-generated images in the text, even though they were denied copyright on the specific images themselves.

When the USCO granted Shupe’s request for copyright, it did not address the disability argument put forth but agreed with the appeal’s other argument. Shupe could be considered the author of “selection, coordination, and arrangement of text generated by artificial intelligence,” the agency wrote, backdating her copyright registration to October 10, 2023, the day that Shupe had originally attempted to register her work. That gives her authorship of the work overall, prohibiting unauthorized wholecloth reproduction of the entire book, but not copyright protection over the actual sentences of the novel.

“Overall, we are extremely satisfied,” says Vescovo. The team felt that copyrighting the book’s compilation would provide peace of mind against out-and-out reproduction of the work. “We really wanted to make sure we could get her this protection right now.” The Brooklyn Law team hope Shupe’s approval can serve as a blueprint for other people experimenting with AI text generation who want some copyright protection.

“I’m going to take this as a win for now,” Shupe says, even though she knows that “in some ways, it’s a compromise.” She maintains that the way she uses ChatGPT more closely resembles a collaboration than an automated output, and that she should be able to copyright the actual text of the book.

Matthew Sag, a professor of law and artificial intelligence at Emory University, calls what the USCO granted Shupe “thin copyright”—protection against full-fledged duplication of materials that doesn’t stop someone from rearranging the paragraphs into a different story. “This is the same kind of copyright you would get in an anthology of poetry that you didn’t write,” Sag says.

Erica Van Loon agrees. “It’s hard to imagine something more narrow,” she says.

Shupe is part of a larger movement to make copyright law friendlier to AI and the people who use it. The Copyright Office, which both administers the copyright registration system and advises Congress, the judiciary system, and other governmental agencies on copyright matters, plays a central role in determining how works that use AI are treated.

Although it continues to define authorship as an exclusively human endeavor , the USCO has demonstrated openness to registering works that incorporate AI elements. The USCO said in February that it has granted registration to over 100 works with AI incorporated; a search by WIRED found over 200 copyright registration applications explicitly disclosing AI elements, including books, songs, and visual artworks.

One such application came from Tyler Partin, who works for a chemical manufacturer. He recently registered a tongue-in-cheek song he created about a coworker, but excluded lyrics that he spun up using ChatGPT from his registration. Partin sees the text generator as a tool, but ultimately doesn’t think he should take credit for its output. Instead, he applied only for the music rather than the accompanying words. “I didn’t do that work,” he says.

But there are others who share Shupe’s perspective and agree with her mission, and believe that AI-generated materials should be registrable. Some high-profile attempts to register AI-generated artworks have resulted in USCO refusals, like artist Jason M. Allen’s effort to get his award-winning artwork Théâtre D’opéra Spatial copyrighted last year. AI researcher Stephen Thaler has been on a mission for years to prove that he should be entitled to copyright protections for a work made by the AI system he developed.

Thaler is currently appealing a ruling in the US last year that rebuffed his attempt to obtain copyright. Ryan Abbott, the lead attorney on the case, founded the Artificial Inventor Project , a group of intellectual property lawyers who file test cases seeking legal protections for AI-generated works.

Abbott is a supporter of Shupe’s mission, although he’s not a member of her legal team. He isn’t happy that the copyright registration excludes the AI-generated work itself. “We all see it as a very big problem,” he says.

Shupe and her legal helpers don’t have plans to push the ADA argument further by contesting the USCO’s decision, but it’s an issue that is far from settled. “The best path is probably to lobby Congress for an addition to the ADA statute,” says Askin. “There's a potential for us to draft some legislation or testimony to try to move Congress in that direction.”

Shupe’s qualified victory is still a significant marker in how the Copyright Office is grappling with what it means to be an author in the age of AI. She hopes going public with her efforts will reduce what she sees as a stigma against using AI as a creative tool. Her metaphorical nuke didn’t go off, but she has nonetheless advanced her cause. “I haven't been this excited since I unboxed a Commodore 64 back in the 1980s and, after a lot of noise, connected to a distant computer,” she says.

Updated 17-4-2024, 4:35 pm EDT: President Biden's executive order on AI last year asked the US Patent and Trademark office to make recommendations on copyright and AI in consultation with the Copyright Office, it did not ask the Copyright Office itself to make the recommendations.

Updated 18-4-2024, 9 am EDT: This piece has been updated to clarify Stephen Thaler's position on AI system copyright.

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