*Note: for these classes you will enroll/pay through the SMU website via the links below:
This five-day workshop is for teens (grades 8 through 12) who love writing fiction in any genre. Each day, participants will begin with a different group writing activity designed to develop a particular area of storytelling, such as character development or plot and structure. Writers will set a goal for the week (e.g., “finish a short story” or “write the first three chapters of my novel”), and they will have time to work on these projects every day. The final hour of each meeting will be for sharing and feedback. Participants are encouraged (but not required) to share their writing with the group for positive and constructive feedback from the instructor and their peers.
Writers must provide their own laptops or tablets that can connect to Wi-Fi. Stories and activities will be written using Google Docs, which allows the instructor and participants to leave comments on all stories. If the writer doesn’t have a Gmail account, the instructor will help set one up for use during this workshop. Writers who prefer to write by hand are welcome to do so. (July 12 - July 16)
This five-day workshop is for teens (grades 8 through 12) who are advanced creative writers and/or have completed Teen Writing I and are eager to take a deeper dive into writing fiction. Each day, participants will begin with a different group writing activity designed to develop a particular area of storytelling, such as world-building and revising. Writers will set a personal story goal for the week and will have time to work on their stories every day. The final hour of each meeting will be for sharing and feedback. Participants are encouraged (but not required) to share their writing with the group for positive and constructive feedback from the instructor and their peers.
Stories and activities will be written using Google Docs, which allows the instructor and participants to leave comments on all stories. If the writer doesn’t have a Gmail account, the instructor will help set one up for use during this workshop. Writers who prefer to write by hand are welcome to do so. (July 26 - July 30)
-Michelle was AMAZING!!!! She gave specific feedback and taught us a lot of beneficial things.
-Ms. Schusterman was a very kind and open instructor, providing us with lots of advice and kindness. She was one of the best writing instructors I have ever had.
-I would like to see more teen writing lessons with this amazing instructor!
-Ms. Schusterman is one of the best writing teachers I have ever had and I am very grateful for everything she has done to help me.
-Thanks to this course and her guidance, I have been able to start my book. I am indebted to Ms. Schusterman.
-This is the first course to walk me through all the ins and outs of actually getting a book published, aka I felt like I was treated like an actual writer and not a two year old child. I appreciate this.
-How may I become pen pals with Michelle Schusterman? I need help finding a publishing agent: I wanna go the whole nine yards. Thanks :)!
About Michelle Schusterman:
Michelle Schusterman is the critically acclaimed author of over a dozen novels, including Spell & Spindle and The Pros of Cons, as well as the Kudo Kids mystery series co-authored with Olympic medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani. Michelle’s books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publisher’s Weekly and have received honors including multiple Junior Library Guild selections, the CBCC Best of 2019 List, ALA’s Rainbow List and Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers List, and the NC State College of Education Comic Relief Reading List. In the last seven years, Michelle has led hundreds of creative writing workshops with organizations including Writing Workshops Dallas, Writopia Lab, and Lawson Writers Academy.