A semester-long online class for ages 11-14

Beginner Middle School
Creative Writing

This course is a playful, purposeful entry into creative writing—designed especially for middle school students who love stories (and even those who don’t think of themselves as “writers” yet!).

With weekly lessons on character, setting, dialogue, theme, and more, students build confidence and creativity as they write short pieces each week. The focus? Storytelling joy, not grammar drills.

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 short, engaging lesson on a key storytelling concept

  • A simple activity to spark ideas and practice the technique

  • A creative writing prompt (fully individual—no peer editing required!)

  • Personalized teacher feedback

Over 12 weeks, students will:

  • Build original characters and vibrant settings

  • Craft dialogue and internal thought

  • Practice story structure, pacing, and revision

  • Learn to write from experience and imagination

  • End the course with a complete, polished short story!

Who it’s for:

This class is a perfect fit for:

  • Middle schoolers (typically ages 11–14)

  • Writers who love stories and want structure and support

  • Newer writers ready to grow confidence and skill

  • Kids who prefer working independently at their own pace or have a busy schedule

No previous creative writing experience required, of course— that’s what we’re here for!

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:
Students will learn what creative writing is and how it differs from other kinds of writing, like news articles or instructions. We'll focus on writing as a tool for expressing ideas, imagination, and emotion.

Week two:
Every story needs a character and a problem! This week introduces the concept of story conflict and how it gives characters something to react to and overcome.

Week three:
We’ll explore basic story structure, helping students organize their ideas into a clear and satisfying arc.

Week four:
This week is all about personality, motivation, and voice. Students will create original characters with clear traits and compelling goals.

Week five:
We’ll learn how to bring a place to life through sensory details and word choice, showing students how to make their settings feel real and meaningful.

Week six:
Students will experiment with first-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient points of view, learning how each one changes the way a story feels.

Week seven:
Students will explore how characters speak, think, and respond to one another. We’ll focus on writing conversations that sound natural and reveal character.

Week eight:
From colorful comparisons to powerful imagery, students will learn how to use figurative language to make their writing more vivid and memorable.

Week nine:
We’ll explore how authors use symbols and personification to add meaning and emotion to their stories, and students will try it in their own scenes.

Week ten:
Fast scenes, slow scenes—students will discover how sentence length and structure can change the speed and emotion of a story.

Week eleven:
We’ll talk about what “revision” really means (hint: it’s not just fixing spelling!) and help students revise one of their past pieces to make it stronger.

Week twelve:
Students will review what they’ve learned and apply it all by writing a complete short story that showcases their creativity and progress.

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 Beginner Middle School Creative Writing class—your writer’s next adventure starts here!