In this 12-week version of Weekly Creative Writing for Teens, students write a brand-new story every week—with a brand-new focus area to keep things fresh, interesting, and creatively low-pressure.
One week we might work on creating a character with a problem they absolutely cannot ignore. Another week, we might focus on dialogue, tension, setting, plot twists, unreliable narrators, spooky stories, sci-fi problems, emotional stakes, or stories where one tiny choice makes everything go sideways.
Each week feels new on purpose. Students get to try different genres, different techniques, and different kinds of stories instead of spending the whole session stuck on one idea that may or may not be working for them.
But the class is not just twelve random prompts.
Underneath all that variety, students are building a real storytelling skillset. Week by week, they’ll practice the pieces that make stories work: character, conflict, structure, voice, pacing, description, tension, theme, and revision. Every class gives students something specific to try right away, while also helping them become stronger, more confident storytellers over time.
This class is a great fit for teens who already love writing, teens who have stories in their heads but struggle to get them onto the page, and teens who need writing to feel a little less like an assignment and a little more like something they actually get to make.
What We’ll Do Each Week
Each class includes:
- A focused mini-lesson on a specific storytelling skill
- A creative prompt connected to that week’s focus area
- Time to brainstorm and ask questions
- 20–25 minutes of dedicated writing time
- Optional sharing after writing
- Encouraging in-class feedback for students who choose to share
Students are always invited to share their work after writing, but they are never required to. Some writers love reading aloud right away. Others need more time to sit with a story first. Both are completely fine.
Students may also polish their work after class and send it to the teacher for written feedback. This gives students the chance to revise at their own pace and receive more detailed notes than we can always give during live class time. Stories must be sent in within 36 hours of class ending—the goal of this class is not to produce flawless pieces, but rather to try something new and unexpected!
Full Editorial Feedback
At the end of the 12-week session, students may choose one story from their collection to send to the teacher for full editorial feedback.
This is more than a quick “great job!” note. Students will receive thoughtful, specific feedback on what’s working, where the story could be stronger, and what they might revise next—similar to the kind of editorial notes a professional author might receive on a draft.
Students do not have to turn in a story if they don’t want to, but for writers who are ready to take one piece a little further, this is a chance to experience the revision-and-feedback process in a supportive, writer-focused way.
Why This Class Is A WordPlay Flagship Course
This class keeps writing from getting stale! Every week gives students something new to play with, so they can experiment, take creative risks, and discover what kind of stories they actually like writing. At the same time, the lessons connect, so students are not just producing more pages—they’re learning how stories are built. By the end of the twelve week sessions, students will have a collection of new drafts, a stronger understanding of storytelling, and a clearer sense that writing is not about waiting for one perfect idea.
