A semester-long online class for ages 15-18

Intermediate High School
Creative Writing

This course is an immersive, craft-focused experience for high school writers ready to refine their voice and elevate their storytelling.

With weekly lessons on literary technique, layered themes, experimental structure, and revision strategies, students tackle bold, original work with depth and intention. The focus? Thoughtful, authentic fiction that’s ready for publication—or at least serious pride.

Class Details

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

  • Ages: 15-18

  • 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 a key storytelling technique

  • A creative activity that explores structure, voice, or theme

  • A writing prompt designed to stretch students’ skills and creativity

  • Personalized teacher feedback to help refine their work

Over 12 weeks, students will:

  • Experiment with advanced craft tools like irony, POV shifts, and emotional pacing

  • Explore storytelling through relationships, silence, and form

  • Revise with an eye for rhythm, flow, and impact

  • Build confidence and voice while creating a polished final piece

Who it’s for:

This class is a perfect fit for:

  • High schoolers (typically ages 15–18) with prior creative writing experience

  • Writers interested in exploring literary tools like irony, point of view shifts, and emotional pacing

  • Students eager to grow beyond basic storytelling into more layered and experimental work

  • Teens who want thoughtful, individualized feedback from a professional writing mentor

Ideal for graduates of our Beginner High School class—or anyone writing at an intermediate level

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, students will have written multiple short pieces and one refined, ambitious story—perfect for a writing portfolio or future submission.

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:
Literary Devices: Foreshadowing, Irony, and Motif
Students will learn how to spot and use literary tools like foreshadowing, irony, and motif to add depth and unity to their work. Through analysis and practice, they’ll begin writing with more intentional technique.

Week two:
Moral Gray Areas
This week explores how flawed or complex characters create more compelling stories. Students will write a morally ambiguous scene where the “right” choice isn’t obvious.

Week three:
POV Shifts and Experiments
Writers will push beyond the basics of point of view to explore shifts in narration, second person storytelling, and unreliable narrators. They’ll experiment with how perspective shapes a reader’s understanding.

Week four:
The Art of Juxtaposition
Students will learn to use contrast—between tone, theme, or imagery—to heighten emotional impact. They'll craft a story that plays with conflicting ideas, such as humor in sadness or chaos in calm.

Week five:
Tightening Pacing and Building Suspense
This week focuses on sentence-level tools to control how fast or tense a scene feels. Writers will practice shortening, rearranging, and breaking up text to build rising tension and payoff.

Week six:
Writing Relationships
From friendship to rivalry, students will explore how character relationships shape the emotional heart of a story. They'll write a turning-point scene that shifts a relationship dynamic.

Week seven:
Dialogue Without Tags
Writers will refine their dialogue skills by removing all dialogue tags, learning instead to use action beats, rhythm, and personality to identify who’s speaking.

Week eight:
Rhythm and Flow in Editing
This week helps students polish their writing by focusing on sentence variety, repetition, and rhythm. They’ll revise past work to improve readability and emotional clarity.

Week nine:
Exploring Form: Flash, Vignette, Snapshot
Students will experiment with ultra-short forms of storytelling, learning to capture powerful moments in under 250 words. They’ll write both a flash fiction piece and a vignette.

Week ten:
Writing the Silent Moment
This week highlights quiet scenes that rely on mood, gesture, and emotional subtext rather than action or dialogue. Students will create a moment that says a lot—without saying much.

Week eleven:
Final Story Draft
Writers will put their skills to the test with a polished story of 900–1,200 words. They'll plan and execute a full narrative that weaves together theme, structure, and voice.

Week twelve:
Self-Assessment and Reflection
To wrap up the course, students will reflect on their writing growth and identify their favorite techniques and next goals. It’s a celebration of progress and a look ahead at what comes next.

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 Intermediate High 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.