Start a Writing Club for Teens at Your School

It’s almost that time of the year! We’re heading back to school. Something I love about this time is the opportunity. The connection. The ability for teen writers to find each other in a common space and discover resources together. In fact, finding a writing community can be a HUGE make-it-or-break-it scenario for writers. Why? Because writing is hard. Having friends who understand what you’re going through helps you keep pursuing the dream. That’s why writing clubs are so important.

So how does someone start a writing club at a school?

First, survey interest, including best time and day. Whenever you choose, try to find a way to include those who can’t make it to those meetings. Maybe you use a hybrid format. Maybe you switch from Wednesday afternoons to Thursday afternoons every other month. Maybe someone takes notes and forwards it to those who couldn’t be there. This will allow for more opportunities and therefore more members…and more members mean a more enriching environment.

Second, let the teens shape the club. What do they want from it? Studying craft? Writing together? Sharing? Use your first meeting to decide what subsequent meeting goals will be. Try to switch things up with various writing workshops. You could even invite guest speakers! (If you want me to speak at your school, please use my contact form. I would love to teach 2-3 events this school year.) Considering taking field trips to indie bookstores or the library. If you have critique group sessions, make sure to use best critique practices. Giving a good critique is a skill. Hurt feelings may mean less attendance. Plus, no one wants a teen writer to feel discouraged before they really get started. Set clear ground rules for critiques. Let writers opt out if they don’t want any. Maybe they just want a safe place to share. If they do want critiques, encourage a compliment sandwich: 1 positive remark, 1 critique, followed up by another positive aspect that’s working.

Finally, provide free resources: Make sure your teens know about craft books and writing websites. Remember that field trip to the library? Ask a librarian where students can find craft books, including through WorldCat. DEAR ALLY by Ally Carter is a how-to-write-books specifically for teens. There are so many! You can also show them how they can research topics for their stories. Help them discover writing websites that are free and encouraging, such as WriteGirl, which provides writing mentorships to girls are 13-18. NaNoWriMo has a young writers program. At the Story Center, we host writing programs all year long that are free and virtual. You do not have to have a Mid-Continent Public Library card to attend. (Google around! You may be surprised at how many free writing workshops are available.) Here are two of mine that are coming up this fall:

October 10, 2023: NaNoWriMo Prep: Prepare to Write a Book in a Month: Virtual & Free! 7 PM Eastern. National Novel Writing Month encourages authors to write a book in a month. Author Shannon Thompson will help you get ready to write a first draft quickly, whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or not! Register. (You do not have to have a Orange County Library card to attend.)

November 14, 2023: How to Write a Book Series: Virtual & Free! 7 PM Eastern. Author Shannon Thompson will discuss how to write a series by exploring how to use outlines, book bibles, and subplots to keep each book consistent, but also fresh and exciting. Register. (You do not have to have a Orange County Library card to attend.)

I hope this helps you start a writing club at your school!

~SAT

P.S. You may have noticed that I switched my blogs back to Mondays! I tried Wednesdays, but all stats indicate that you all prefer Mondays, so I’m going back to my old posting schedule: the first and third Monday of the month (and fifth, if there happens to be one—like today!) Thank you for your understanding as I try some new things out!

See you again on August 7!