Discovery-First writing is the process of drafting a piece of writing, from a short story all the way up to a large novel, completely organically, without the use of outlines, plans, or flowcharts. In some form or another, every writer uses this method to varying degrees as they discover their characters, plot, and themes through the process of writing. Some famous examples, which have personally inspired me are Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, and even J.R.R. Tolkien. They were all notorious ‘pantsers’! A loving term meaning: flying by the seat of their pants. In this class we’ll learn how to turn a blank piece of paper into an original story driven by the students' creativity, problem solving, and heart. At first the blank page can be intimidating, but by the end, students will see it for what it really is: an opportunity to share something new and brilliant with the world! A lesson will include: Building creativity and seeing the scene Turning that scene into words and flow Reviewing and editing your “pants’d” story! Reading aloud your short story and how to ask others to help edit The Aftermath: how practice and observation builds voice and creativity Creative writing is a powerful skill to hone: beyond being able to tell stories, either real, or completely made up, young authors can shape their world by building their voice. Voice is a skill that once built can transfer into so many different facets of life: from essay writing, persuasive writing, public speaking, proposals, debate, world building, and logic. It’s also something that if not built early, can be harder to attain in adulthood, or takes much longer, with more effort. It’s also extremely hard to fake, and an inconsistent voice sticks out like a sore thumb, while being difficult to pinpoint. It’s worth it to build it now!

Experience subject

Creative Writing