A semester-long online class for ages 11-14

Advanced Middle School
Creative Writing

This course is a deep dive into powerful, polished storytelling—designed for middle school writers who are ready to push their craft to the next level.

With weekly lessons on theme, symbolism, nonlinear structure, and narrative complexity, students sharpen their voice and vision while crafting ambitious, meaningful stories. The focus? Crafting fiction with heart, depth, and purpose.

Class Details

Your child can become a confident, creative storyteller— this class will show them how!

  • Ages: 11–14

  • Length: 12 weeks

  • Time Commitment: ~1–2 hours/week

  • Format: Asynchronous online course

  • Cost: $357

  • Start Date: Fall Semester runs September 8, 2025-November 30, 2025

What’s covered in class:

Each week includes:

  • A focused lesson on an advanced storytelling technique

  • A creative activity to explore structure, theme, or voice

  • A writing prompt designed to challenge and inspire

  • Personalized teacher feedback to deepen each student’s craft

Over 12 weeks, students will:

  • Develop multi-layered plots and meaningful subplots

  • Use symbolism, pacing, and emotional resonance with purpose

  • Experiment with nonlinear structures and creative formats

  • Strengthen their voice and refine story flow through revision

  • Finish the course with a polished, ambitious short story

Who it’s for:

This class is a perfect fit for:

  • Middle schoolers (typically ages 11–14) with some creative writing experience

  • Writers who are excited to take risks and dive deeper into their craft

  • Students ready for more independence and literary complexity

  • Kids who enjoy working at their own pace with expert support

Ideal for graduates of our Intermediate course—or anyone who’s ready to level up!

How it works

Log in to our Google Classroom each week to read a short, friendly lesson on a key writing skill (like character, dialogue, or theme).

  1. Do a quick, creative activity to explore that skill.

  2. Write your story with help from a fun, focused prompt.

  3. Get encouraging feedback from a real author who’s on your side.

By the end of 12 weeks, your child will have written several short pieces and one polished final story—and they'll want to keep writing.

And hey— does your learner need some face to face time each week, or extra support with a lesson? No problem! The teacher offers Zoom office hours once weekly, where students can drop in to chat in person.

What parents are saying about WordPlay…

  • “This is an absolutely fantastic class. My daughter is a very reluctant writer - until we found this class! She loves this class and is always is so excited to show me her writings after class."

    Celine G.

  • “This was a fantastic class. My son had a great time, and it challenged him to make strong progress from week to week. He's had Jackson as an instructor for other classes for quite some time, and the quality of the instruction is top notch. Highly recommend!"

    Kathryn W.

  • "My teen has taken many WordPlay Writing Co. classes and has always had positive experiences. In this class, he finds Saundra's feedback to be helpful and describes her as kind and inclusive."

    Sabrina P.

  • "You can’t go wrong with a Jackson Pearce-led class. I have zero doubts that Ms. Pearce has helped my child go from a kid who LOVED reading, but HATED writing to a kid who now finds writing to be a need."

    Janet C.

  • "Saundra Mitchell has been an incredible teacher for my children. She’s patient, supportive, and always brings such a positive energy to her classes. My kids said she was very enthusiastic—they felt truly encouraged and motivated to keep improving their writing."

    Pamela G.

Weekly Schedule

Week one:
Subplots
Students learn how to craft subplots that add depth and complexity to a story, supporting or contrasting the main plotline.

Week two:
Themes
Writers explore how meaningful themes—like justice or identity—can be woven into genre stories without feeling heavy-handed.

Week three:
Epistolary Stories
This week introduces creative story structures like diary entries, letters, or timestamped scenes to experiment with nonlinear storytelling.

Week four:
Symbolism and Repetition
Students use repeated images or phrases to build deeper meaning, learning how even small details can carry emotional weight.

Week five:
Time Jumps and Flashbacks
Writers practice using flashbacks and time shifts to reveal new information and change the reader’s understanding of the present.

Week six:
High Stakes and Tension
Students learn how to raise emotional or situational stakes to keep readers engaged—even when the conflict isn’t life-or-death.

Week seven:
Emotional Pacing
This week explores how sentence structure and pacing mirror emotional intensity, helping students write scenes that feel vivid and real.

Week eight:
Subverting Tropes
Writers learn to twist common storytelling tropes, creating surprise and originality in their fiction.

Week nine:
Writing from Experience
Students draw on real emotions to bring authenticity to their characters, even in fantastical or futuristic settings.

Week ten:
Polishing Voice
Writers revise previous work with a focus on voice—refining word choice, rhythm, and sentence flow for maximum impact.

Week eleven:
Full Story Planning
With all their new tools, students plan a complete story with a main plot, subplot, and emotional arc.

Week twelve:
Final Story Draft
Writers bring it all together in a polished short story, showcasing their growth in structure, style, and storytelling skill.

Plus, access to weekly teacher office hours, where the teacher is available to meet with your child live via Zoom for additional support!

Ready to write?

Click below to enroll for Fall 2025 in the Advanced Middle School Creative Writing class—your writer’s next adventure starts here!

FAQs

  • Not at all! Enroll your learner in whatever class seems the best fit for them, regardless of age. The recommended ages are merely our way of generalizing who the class was designed for.

  • Nope! Though we do recommend starting with the beginner levels— even if your learner is an avid writer— this is a recommendation, not a requirement.

  • Probably! WordPlay is officially ESA eligible in Arizona, Utah, Florida, New Hampshire, Alabama, North Carolina, Arkansas, and West Virginia. If your state isn’t listed or your charter requires additional paperwork, just reach out— we’ll do everything we can to make it happen for you.

  • Great observation—and you’re right! We believe middle schoolers are ready for real storytelling tools, especially when those tools are taught in a fun, accessible way. While concepts like subplots, voice, or symbolism may sound advanced, we break them down with clear examples, playful activities, and guided prompts.

    Our goal isn’t to pressure students to write “perfect” stories—it’s to give them new ways to think, explore, and express themselves. Many students surprise themselves with what they’re capable of when given the right support and encouragement. Plus, each assignment comes with personalized feedback to help students grow at their own pace.