creative writing school holiday program

[email protected]

+65 6469 3997 | +65 9122 4880

Holiday Course

Register for Course

Creative Writing June Holiday Courses

Holiday Programme

Creative Writing Courses for P1 to P6 Including PSLE Paper 1 & 2 Intensive Training

June Creative Writing Holiday Courses P1 to 6 PSLE Paper 1 & 2 Intensive Training

Have little time to spare and you wish to zero in on creative writing courses that are highly effective and yield the most optimal results ? At Writers Studio, we have been developing short holiday courses with strategic exam techniques that are easily retained by students. Our history with the PSLE and O-levels dates back 20 years. Taught mostly by experienced Primary and Secondary school teachers from the MOE, our strong lesson content with in-depth teaching gives your child the best classroom experience.

June Creative Writing Course Confidence Building

Pri 1 & 2 18 to 21 June 9:30 am to 11:30 am Venue: Bukit Timah

June Creative Writing Boosters Strengthen & Expose

Pri 3 & 4 18 to 21 June P3: 9:30 am to 11:30 am P4: 12 pm to 2 pm Venue: Bukit Timah

June Creative Writing Boosters Synergise & Fortify

Pri 5 18 to 21 June 12 pm to 2 pm Venue: Bukit Timah

June Creative Writing

Pri 6 18 to 20 June (Tue to Thur) 12 pm to 2 pm

Syn & Trans, Compre

Pri 6 21 June (Fri) 12 pm to 2 pm and 23 June (Sun) 12 pm to 230 pm Venue: Bukit Timah

PSLE Oral Pri 6 2023

6 Aug & 13 Aug 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

9 to 10 August 9.30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

PSLE Comprehension Exam Revision Primary 5 & 6 (Hone your techniques, Sharpen your performance)

16 July & 23 July 245 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Synthesis & Transformation, Comprehension Cloze, Comprehension Open-Ended Pri 6 2023

(Handling Challenging Questions)

Parts 1 & 2

11 & 18 June 2023 1.45 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.

Creative Writing P3 to P4

(Strive & Score)

6 Sep to 8 Sep 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

Creative Writing & Paper 2 Pri 5

(Pitch & Achieve)

5 Sep to 8 Sep 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Creative Writing & Paper 2 PSLE 2023

(Targeted to Score)

Why join our holiday courses?

years of experience

Our enrichment centre have been creating classes to train English students in Singapore for more than ten years (not counting the years of experience as private PSLE educators)

Our teachers are equipped with first-hand knowledge of the PSLE and were official MOE examiners.

We have taught thousands of students and guided them to score distinctions and AL1s.

Proven Results

We have guided successful students across different nationalities and age groups, yielding excellent results in the PSLE and O-Levels. Our students are among the best English graduates in top schools. Since establishing our first school at Bukit Timah in 2013, our students’ results have been exceeding the expectations of their parents. The number of students achieving distinctions, equivalent to AL1 in the PSLE and an A1-2 band in the O-Levels, has been on the rise as our student community expands. We take pride in these accomplishments.

Raving Reviews

Writers Studio Holiday Class has been a favourite among parents who look for the tipping point between an average score and a remarkable one. We have helped numerous students gain confidence and changed their mindset towards writing and other English language components. Our students have gained confidence with a high percentage who gave feedback that the courses are “ value for money ”, “ effective ” and “ helpful ”.

CreativEdge Learning

Holiday workshops, creative writing holiday programme in singapore.

More than just a tuition centre

Relevant learning in an interactive classroom is the key to academic excellence., primary 1 essential english, primary 1 and 2 learn to write, primary 3 head start for english, primary 3 and 4 plan and write, primary 5 and 6 what to write, contact us to find out more .

Should you have any questions about our creative writing holiday workshop in Singapore, feel free to get in touch with our friendly staff. You may click  here  to leave a message on our online inquiry form.

WhatsApp us

• WEgivesback
• 2024 Terms & Conditions
• 10TH ANNIVERSARY
• Join Our Teaching Team
• Student Portal Guide
• WE INDONESIA

2024 June Holiday English & Writing Classes

2024 June Holidays English & Writing Classes

Make the best out of the holidays — pick up skills and techniques to tackle the different segments in the English paper this June with Write Edge!

Our structured and comprehensive materials aim to give your child a boost in their English and build their confidence with our English and writing programmes.

Primary and Secondary classes are available both in physical locations and online.

Limited slots available, call or WhatsApp us at 8868 9711 to enrol now!

Sign Up or Contact Us Today!

Kindly note that our enrolment has ended for June Holiday Programmes.

Enquire more about our regular programmes here:

© Write Edge – All Rights Reserved

HOLIDAY PROGRAMME

Experience one of our specially-designed Holiday Programmes that emphasize building your child’s academic excellence in composition writing, oral examination skills, grammar understanding and comprehension exam strategies. Every holiday programme is carefully curated and delivered by our trained teachers to give your child a boost in their examination grades. Check out our popular holiday programmes now and contact us for more details!

HALL OF FAME

Benjamin, the weakest player in the team, found the ball rolling towards him. My chance! he thought. He kept his nervousness in check and kicked the ball with all his might but the ball curved and missed the goalpost by a hair’s breadth. Benjamin looked down, disappointed in his own ability. He was probably not cut out to be part of the team. The remaining members stifled their laughter and did not give him a second glance. At that moment, Benjamin got a firm pat on his back. When he turned around he saw Winston with an encouraging smile on his face. He said, “Benjamin, don’t worry, you can do it! All you need is practice. Don’t give up, all right?” Benjamin thanked Winston and felt new confidence swell in his heart.

Zhang Xiao Yuan, Primary 5

Nan Hua Primary School

“They’ll pay you more than anyone else, I promise. Twice, three times more! Come, Dolores, follow me,” the lady’s enticing invitation reverberated in her ears, but she had had enough; to follow her would mean hurting herself even more. She stared at the cuts and bruises on her body, shivering in fear. But Dolores was stranded between the devil and the deep blue sea. She needed the money. Badly. Her family was starving and they still owed the landlords two years’ rent. Dolores looked back at the village she knew so well. The slums made of zinc plates and rotting wood planks, the murky river in front of the slums that they solely depended on for drinking water and bathing, the children running around and playing naked. She reminiscence about the days when she could still play with them, but many years ago, she had already made the decision—coerced by poverty—to embark on this journey where there was no telling where the path would lead her. There was no turning back.

Warren Wong, Year 1

Raffles Institution

TESTIMONIALS

“W@W teachers have been really helpful in giving me tips on how to help my son with his writing at home. I greatly appreciate the planned approach. With the many themes and story plots we have been given, I can see how my son can draw from any mix of them to create a good story.”

Mrs Lauren Leow

Parent of our Primary 5 student

contact Form

OUR CENTRES

320 Clementi Ave 4 #01-15/27 Singapore 120320 (See Map )

OPENING HOURS

Monday – Friday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday – Sunday: 9.00am to 6.00pm

WR!TERS@WORK PROGRAMMES

• Primary 6 PURE COMPOSITION Writing Program
• Primary 5 PURE COMPOSITION Writing Program
• Primary 4 PURE COMPOSITION Writing Program
• Upper Secondary Comprehensive English Program
• Lower Secondary Comprehensive English Program
• Primary 6 Comprehensive English Program
• Primary 5 Comprehensive English Program
• Primary 4 Comprehensive English Program
• Primary 3 Comprehensive English Program
• Primary 2 Comprehensive English Program
• Primary 1 Comprehensive English Program
• K2-Junior Comprehensive English Program

Call us: 6774 2618 / 9684 3373 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

[email protected]

Join the W@W community!

559 Bukit Timah Road #01-02B King’s Arcade Singapore 269695 (See Map )

Monday – Friday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday – Sunday: 9.00am to 6.00pm

Call us: 6463 6718 / 8600 2778 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

728 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 #01-4220, Singapore 560728 (See Map )

Monday – Friday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday – Sunday: 9.00am – 6.00pm

Call us: 6250 1906 / 8600 3815 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

1 Marine Parade Central Parkway Centre #10-08 Singapore 449408 (See Map )

Monday – Tuesday and Thursday – Friday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday – Sunday: 9.00am to 6.00pm Wednesday: CLOSED

Call us: 6243 3236 / 8600 3420 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

300 Tampines Ave 5 #05-08 Tampines Junction Singapore 529653 (See Map )

Monday – Wednesday and Friday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday – Sunday: 9.00am to 6.00pm Thursday : CLOSED

Call us: 6223 0125 / 8668 1924 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

Ci Yuan Community Centre 51 Hougang Ave 9 #03-02 Singapore 538776 (See Map )

Monday – Friday : 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday : 9.00am to 6.00pm Sunday : CLOSED

Call us: 6214 9359 / 8600 0498 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

298 Tiong Bahru Road #06-02 Central Plaza Singapore 168730 (See Map )

Monday, Wednesday – Friday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday: 9.00am to 6.00pm Tuesday and Sunday: Closed

Call us: 8600 5534 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

Blk 284 Bishan St 22 #01-207 Singapore 570284 (See Map )

Monday – Friday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday – Sunday: 9.00am to 6.00pm

Call us: 8600 0737 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

12 Kallang Ave Aperia Mall, #03-02 Singapore 339511 (See Map )

Call us: 8600 9441 WhatsApp us: 8404 9281

+65 6774 2618 / 9684 3373

Monday - Wednesday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Thursday - Friday: 2.00pm to 9.00pm Saturday - Sunday: 9.00am to 6.00pm

559 Bukit Timah Road #01-02B King's Arcade Singapore 269695 (See Map )

+65 6463 2956 / 8600 2778

+65 62501906 / 8600 3815

+65 62433236 / 8600 3420

+65 86681924

Monday - Wednesday: 11.00am to 7.00pm Thursday - Friday: 2.00pm to 7.00pm Saturday - Sunday: 9.00am to 6.00pm

+65 62501906 / +65 8600 3815

Monday - Friday : 11.00am to 7.00pm Saturday : 9.00am to 6.00pm

© Copyright www.writersatwork.com.sg 2024, all rights reserved. By Orfeostory - Web Design & App Developer Singapore

creative Writing School Holiday program (2 sessions)

Event description.

Over 2 sessions, Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st September. Join our experienced teacher and writer, Cassie, for two sessions of fun with creative writing exercises to help you craft your own stories. Suitable for young people who are interested in story, and wanting to write their own stories, poems and improve their skills, beginners welcome too. Fee covers both sessions.

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix donates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

Refund policy

Refunds are available up to 7 days prior to the event

Melbourne Young Writers' Studio

Book a free trial in a weekly creative story writing group for term 2, those enrolled for semester two have the chance to be published in our beautiful annual anthology in-person and online sessions available., school incursions & excursions for students and teachers, immersive and inspiring creative story writing programs available as excursions or incursions for primary and secondary. teacher curriculum days also available, comedy writing, two comedy writing events for adults not to be missed, winter holiday programs open for booking, get creative and cosy in the studio with two weeks of epic school holiday programs, fresh fiction writing competition now open for submissions, kids, teens and adult prizes up for grabs, kids programs.

Fun, immersive and inspiring programs for ages 6-18 years.

Online Creative Story Writing

Tailored to the online setting, our Online Inkling Groups leverage the advantages of Zoom, providing unique and immersive experiences for young writers everywhere.

Creative Story Writing Groups and Mentorships

An inspiring and supportive space for young writers to delve into the craft of story under the guidance of practising writers and take their writing skills and imaginations to the next level.

School Holiday Programs and Festivals

Immersive, imaginative and lots of fun, MYWS popular school holiday programs are unique days with themes to suit all ages and interests, from teen specific days, to fantasy and sci-fi programs, to days of mystery and adventure. The perfect way to inspire a love of story and get writing.

School Incursions and Excursions

Primary and secondary school incursions and excursions designed to inspire a love of the craft of story and extend the skills and knowledge of advanced writers. Accessible and the perfect opportunity to awaken the magic of story in students of all ages and abilities. Book Week special now open!

Adult Programs

Creative writing courses and events for adults at any stage in their writing journey.

One-off Events

Story Studios Australia’s one off events focus on a variety of aspects of writing, community, sharing and storytelling and are often led by special guests and teachers

Short Courses

Led by professional writers with industry experience, our adult Short Courses offer an intimate and practical approach to creative writing. There’s no better environment to learn, be inspired, and connect with Melbourne’s creative writing community.

Regular Events

Develop your writing practice and connect with an amazing community of authors, screenwriters, poets, journalists and more by coming along to fun and creative regular events such as Words and Wine and Screenwriters Club!

Professional Development

Enrich and upskill your team with unique and engaging professional development sessions tailorable to your needs.

Check out the story magic being conjured at Story Studios this term and get a glimpse of what’s to come!

Head to @mywritersstudio on instagram to check out all the wonderful things happening, issue 4 of the quarterly quill out now.

Exploration, Education & Storytelling for your event!

Interested in having Story Studios Australia/Melbourne Young Writers’ Studio along to run a workshop at a festival, fete or event? Get in touch to find out more about tailoring a program to your needs!

ENROLL DONATE

• Who We Serve
• Program Logic Model
• Culture Statement
• Board of Directors
• Advisory Council
• Join the Team!
• Get Involved

What's Hot?

• WRITOPIA SPEAKS
• Creative Writing
• Essay Writing
• College Essay
• Role-Playing Games
• Debate Team
• Private Sessions & Workshops
• Specialty Genres, Events, and More
• Sleepaway Camps
• School Year
• Writopia Publishing Lab
• Worldwide Plays Festival
• Scholastic Writing Awards
• Youth Essay Conference
• Family Memoir
• Writopia Lab Salon
• Teen Intensives
• Professional Development

Upcoming Events

• Westchester
• Program Schedules
• For Students
• For Parents
• For Educators

Advanced Writing Exploration Program (AWE)

Summer 2024 programs.

The Advanced Writing Exploration Program invites rising 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade writers to be part of a community of dedicated, focused writers looking to explore their literary passions.

The program includes multi-genre workshops, as well as genre-specialized master class sessions. All workshops are student-driven and author-led, and writers will receive continuous feedback from their instructor and peers.

The program will prepare writers for Writopia’s popular and esteemed Creative Portfolio program for high schoolers.

This is an application-only program.

Price: $1290 Applicants can apply for need-based financial aid

Summer sessions include daily craft talks, writing exercises, and deep dives into different writing genres including poetry, memoir, playwriting, screenwriting, essay writing, fiction, comedy, and more. The session concludes with a reading and celebration.

Summer 2024 Date and Location Options:

• Upper West Side, Monday, July 29th to Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 1 PM to 4 PM ET
• Online, Monday, August 12th to Wednesday, August 21st, 2024 1 PM to 4 PM ET / 10 AM to 1 PM PT

Click here to apply for AWE!

School Year Programs

The Middle School Advanced Writing Exploration Program (AWE) invites 7th and 8th-grade writers to be part of a community of dedicated, focused writers looking to explore, expand, and deepen their literary passions. The program includes multi-genre workshops, as well as genre-specialized master class sessions. All workshops are student-driven and author-led, and writers will receive continuous feedback from their instructor and peers.

The AWE program also includes one private session in which the writer can focus on academic essay writing, admissions essays, or the creative genre of their choice.

The program will inspire and challenge middle school writers, as well as prepare them for Writopia’s popular and esteemed Creative Portfolio program for high schoolers.

This is an application-only program. We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Tuition: $645 (Limited financial aid available)

• Week 1: Multi-genre Workshop and Goal Setting
• Week 2: Multi-genre Workshop
• Week 3: Mystery and Horror Master Class Part 1
• Week 4: Mystery and Horror Master Class Part 2
• Week 5: Multi-genre Workshop
• Week 6: Screenwriting Master Class Part 1
• Week 7: Screenwriting Master Class Part 2
• Week 8: Multi-genre Workshop
• Week 9: Author visit and publishing discussion
• Week 10: Comedy Master Class Part 1
• Week 11: Comedy Master Class Part 2
• Week 12: Final Workshop and Celebration
• Tuesdays, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM ET (Dates: Jan 10 through Apr 4)
• Wednesdays, 7 PM to 8:30 PM ET (Dates: Jan 11 through Apr 5)
• Upper West Side
• Sundays, 4 PM to 5:30 PM ET (Dates: Jan 8 through Apr 2)
• Mondays, 3:45 PM to 5:15 PM ET (Dates: Jan 9 through Apr 10)
• Tenleytown, DC
• Fridays, 3:45 PM to 5:15 PM ET (Dates: Jan 13 through Apr 7)

Summer Programs

• New Program: Sports Writing
• New Program: BOOKed for the Summer
• Enroll in a Summer Workshop!
• Enroll now in a full school year of workshops (Fall, Winter, and Spring trimesters) and receive two free private sessions !
• June 5th: Virtual Open House: Teen Creative Porfolio Program
• June 29th: Teen Open Mic in NYC!

Enroll Now!

Weekly Trimester-Long Workshops

Check out the Weekly Trimester-Long Schedule .

Holiday & School Break Workshops

Check out the Half-Day and Full-Day schedules.

Summer Workshops and Camps

Check out the Summer Schedule .

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 12 best creative writing colleges and programs.

College Info

Finding a dedicated creative writing program at a school you're excited about can be a real challenge, and that's even before you start worrying about getting in. Nonetheless, there are some great options. In order to help you find the best school for you, this list rounds up some of the best colleges for creative writing in the United States .

The Best Creative Writing Programs: Ranking Criteria

You should never take college rankings as absolute truth —not even the very official-seeming US News ones. Instead, use these kinds of lists as a jumping-off place for your own exploration of colleges. Pay attention not just to what the rankings are but to how the rankings are determined.

To help with that, I'll explain how I came up with this highly unscientific list of great creative writing colleges. I started by narrowing my search down to schools that offered a specific creative writing major. (If you don't see a school you were expecting, it's likely because they only have a minor.)

In ranking the schools, I considered five major criteria:

• #1: MFA Ranking —If a school has a great graduate creative writing program, it means you'll be taught by those same professors and the excellent graduate students they attract. Schools with strong MFA programs are also more likely to have solid alumni networks and internship opportunities. However, many schools with great undergrad programs do not offer MFAs, in which case I simply focused on the other four options.
• #2: General School Reputation —The vast majority of your classes won't be in creative writing, so it's important that other parts of the school, especially the English department, are great as well.
• #3: Extracurricular Opportunities —One of the key advantages of majoring in creative writing is that it can provide access to writing opportunities outside the classroom, so I took what kind of internship programs, author readings, and literary magazines the school offers into consideration.
• #4: Diversity of Class Options —I gave extra points to schools with a variety of genre options and specific, interesting classes.
• #5: Alumni/Prestige —This last criterion is a bit more subjective: is the school known for turning out good writers? Certainly it's less important than what kind of education you'll actually get, but having a brand-name degree (so to speak) can be helpful.

The Best Creative Writing Schools

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of schools! The exact numbering is always arguable, so look at it as a general trend from absolutely amazing to still super great, rather than fixating on why one school is ranked #3 and another is ranked #4.

#1: Northwestern University

Northwestern's undergrad creative writing program boasts acclaimed professors and an unparalleled track record of turning out successful writers (including Divergent author Veronica Roth and short-story writer Karen Russell).

Outside the classroom, you can work on the student-run literary journal, intern at a publication in nearby Chicago, or submit to the Department of English's yearly writing competition . The university is also home to a top journalism program , so if you want to try your hand at nonfiction as well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to do so.

#2: Columbia University

Like Northwestern, Columbia is home to both a world-class creative writing program and a top journalism school (plus one of the best English departments in the country), so you have a wide range of writing-related course options. Columbia also benefits from its location in New York City, which is bursting at the seams with publishing houses, literary journals, and talented authors.

#3: University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's big draw is the infrastructure of its graduate Writers' Workshop, which is often considered the best MFA program in the country.

As an English and Creative Writing major here, you'll take classes from great young writers and established professors alike, and get to choose from a wide range of topics. This major provides transferable skills important for a liberal arts major with a creative focus. You'll also have access to the university's impressive literary community, including frequent readings, writing prizes and scholarships, and the acclaimed literary journal The Iowa Review .

#4: Emory University

Emory is renowned for its dedicated undergrad creative writing program , which draws the very best visiting scholars and writers. Students here have the chance to attend intimate question-and-answer sessions with award-winning authors, study a range of genres, compete for writing awards and scholarships, and work closely with an adviser to complete an honors project.

#5: Oberlin College

A small liberal arts school in Ohio, Oberlin offers very different advantages than the schools above do. You'll have fewer opportunities to pursue writing in the surrounding city, but the quality of the teachers and the range of courses might make up for that. Moreover, it boasts just as impressive alumni, including actress and writer Lena Dunham.

#6: Hamilton College

Hamilton is another small college, located in upstate New York. It's known for giving students the freedom to pursue their interests and the support to help them explore topics in real depth, both inside and outside the classroom. Hamilton's creative writing program takes full advantage with small classes and lots of opportunities to intern and publish; it also has one of the best writing centers in the country.

#7: Brown University

Brown's Literary Arts program offers one of the top MFAs in the US as well as an undergraduate major . For the major, you must take four creative writing workshops and six reading-intensive courses, which span an array of departments and topics, from music and literature to Middle East studies and Egyptology.

#8: Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University has an excellent creative writing MFA program, lots of super specific class options, and a number of scholarships specifically earmarked for creative writing students. This school’s undergraduate English program also offers a concentration in creative writing that allows students to specialize in a specific genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. If you’re interested in exploring your potential in a specific writing genre, Washington University could be a great pick for you.

#9: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT might not be a school you generally associate with writing, but it actually has an excellent program that offers courses in digital media and science writing, as well as creative writing, and provides plenty of guidance on how graduates can navigate the tricky job market.

Not to mention the school is located in Cambridge, a haven for book lovers and writers of all kinds. Though it probably isn’t a good fit for students who hate science, MIT is a great place for aspiring writers who want to build writing skills that are marketable in a wide range of industries.

#10: University of Michigan

University of Michigan is one of the best state universities in the country and has a top-notch MFA program. This school’s undergrad creative writing sub-concentration requires students to submit applications for admittance to advanced creative writing courses. These applications give students crucial practice in both building a writing portfolio and articulating their interest in creative writing to an audience who will evaluate their work. If you're looking to attend a big school with a great creative writing major, this is a fantastic choice.

#11: Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins is another school that's known more for engineering than it is for writing, but, like MIT, it has a dedicated writing program. As a major here, you must take not only courses in prose, poetry, and literature, but also classes on topics such as philosophy and history.

#12: Colorado College

Colorado College is a small liberal arts school known for its block plan , which allows students to focus on one class per three-and-a-half-week block. The creative writing track of the English major includes a sequence of four writing workshops and also requires students to attend every reading of the Visiting Writers Series.

Bonus School: New York University

I didn't include NYU in the main list because it doesn't have a dedicated creative writing major, but it's a great school for aspiring writers nonetheless, offering one of the most impressive creative writing faculties in the country and all the benefits of a Manhattan location.

How To Pick the Best Creative Writing School for You

Just because Northwestern is a great school for creative writing doesn't mean you should set your heart on going there. (The football fans are completely terrifying, for one thing.) So where should you go then?

Here are some questions to ask yourself when looking at creative writing programs to help you determine the best school for you:

Does It Have Courses You're Interested In?

Look at the course offerings and see whether they interest you. While you can't predict exactly what classes you'll love, you want to avoid a mismatch where what you want to study and what the program offers are completely different. For example, if you want to write sonnets but the school focuses more on teaching fiction, it probably won't be a great fit for you.

Also, don't forget to look at the English courses and creative writing workshops! In most programs, you'll be taking a lot of these, too.

What Opportunities Are There To Pursue Writing Outside of Class?

I touched on this idea in the criteria section, but it's important enough that I want to reiterate it here. Some of the best writing experience you can get is found outside the classroom, so see what kind of writing-related extracurriculars a school has before committing to it.

Great options include getting involved with the campus newspaper, working on the school's literary journal, or interning at the university press.

Who Will Be Teaching You?

Who are the professors? What kind of work have they published? Check teacher ratings on Rate My Professors (but make sure to read the actual reviews—and always take them with a grain of salt).

If you're looking at a big school, there's a good chance that a lot of your teachers will be graduate students. But that's not necessarily a bad thing: a lot of the best teachers I had in college were graduate students. Just take into consideration what kind of graduate program the school has. If there's a great creative writing MFA program, then the graduate students are likely to be better writers and more engaged teachers.

What Are the Alumni Doing Now?

If you have a sense of what you want to do after you graduate, see if any alumni of the program are pursuing that type of career. The stronger the alumni network is, the more connections you'll have when it comes time to get a job.

What About the Rest of the School?

Don't pick a school for which you like the creative writing program but dread everything else about it. Most of your time will be spent doing other things, whether hanging out in the dorms, exploring off campus, or fulfilling general education requirements.

Many schools require you to apply to the creative writing major, so make doubly sure you'll be happy with your choice even if you aren't accepted to the program.

What's Next?

Are you sure a creative writing major is the right fit for you? Read our post on the pros and cons of the major to help you decide what path to take in college.

For more general advice about choosing a college, check out our complete guide to finding the right school for you. Some major factors to consider include deciding whether you're interested in a small college or a big university , an in-state or out-of-state institution , and a public or private school .

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

• University Home
• Parsons School of Design
• Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts
• College of Performing Arts
• The New School for Social Research
• Schools of Public Engagement
• Parsons Paris
• Continuing and Professional Education
• Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment
• School of Media Studies
• Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs
• Creative Writing Program (MFA)
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA)
• Bachelor’s Program for Adults and Transfer Students

Creative Writing Program

The New School invites you to join a community of diverse writers, become part of New York City’s publishing world, and build a network of support on campus and beyond. Our prestigious MFA Creative Writing program is designed to help you develop your writing in supportive workshops and literature seminars led by an internationally recognized faculty and renowned authors.

books published annually by alumni and faculty

annual writing events, including the National Book Awards Finalist Reading

of admitted MFA students awarded merit-based university scholarships (2020–2021)

MFA in Creative Writing

As an MFA student at The New School, you can choose your concentration—in Arts Writing, Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Writing for Children and Young Adults—and receive personalized faculty mentorship and faculty and peer critiques. Innovative courses in publishing and multimedia storytelling engage you in the development of literature. Popular graduate minors include Impact Entrepreneurship and Transmedia and Digital Storytelling . Or you can apply to WriteOn NYC! , a New School–funded fellowship program providing MFA students with high-quality teaching experience in area middle schools and high schools. All students benefit from evening classes and events, which enable them to work or attend responsibilities during the day while enrolled in a  full-time program.

Related Programs

In addition to the renowned MFA in Creative Writing, The New School offers other programs and opportunities for writing students. These include noncredit courses and summer intensives, as well as an undergraduate major in the Bachelor’s Program for Adults and Transfer Students, the Writing and Democracy Honors Program, and undergraduate minors in related fields. Summer Writing Intensive Continuing Education Courses Writing & Democracy Honors Program BA in Creative Writing Undergraduate Creative Writing Courses

• Meet our faculty

The Writer’s Life in NYC

Creative Writing students come to The New School from across the United States and around the world to live the writer's life in New York City. Evenings with agents and editors, offered exclusively for MFA students, provide informal opportunities to meet publishing professionals.

The New School Bookshelf

We are proud to feature books recently published by The New School's Creative Writing community.

Sigrid Nunez, Faculty

Hurricane Child

Kacen callender, mfa '14.

The Impeachers

Brenda wineapple, faculty.

The January Children

Safia elhillo, mfa '15.

Mira Jacob, Faculty and MFA '01

Events & news.

• The Vera List Center for Art and Politics Presents New School New Books Event Series
• Adrian Madlener, History of Design and Curatorial Studies ’18, Explores Design Through Writing and Research
• The Vera List Center for Art and Politics Hosts Reading Room Featuring Faculty Books
• Richard Barone, School of Jazz and Contemporary Music Faculty Member, Debuts New Book about Music Scene in 1960’s Greenwich Village
• New Faculty Achievements from Across The New School Include Fellowships, Grants, and More
• Alexandra Kleeman, SPE Assistant Professor of Writing, Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship in Fiction

Take The Next Step

• Request Info

Submit your application

Undergraduates.

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

9 Festive Holiday-Themed Writing Activities For Middle School ELA

Looking to fill the last weeks of December with holiday-themed writing activities? You’ve come to the right place! Channel your holiday spirit while engaging students in fun yet meaningful learning opportunities.

Many teachers feel like getting anything meaningful done in these last weeks of December is impossible. And, yes, as winter break inches closer, it becomes more challenging to keep students on task. However, if you find creative ways to bring festive fun into your classroom, you can channel the holiday spirit into meaningful learning opportunities. 

I’m here to help you leverage that festive (and sometimes chaotic) energy to engage students in writing activities that align with educational standards and bring the holiday magic into your classroom. The best part? It doesn’t have to involve hours of planning and prep work. (That’s a gift in itself.)

Read on to discover my favorite low-prep writing activities designed to keep students engaged in learning while having a holly jolly time in the weeks leading up to the holiday break.

9 Fun & Festive Writing Activities

Stop battling the “pre-winter break” struggle with your students. Instead, make the most of the holiday spirit by assigning these festive and fun writing activities perfect for December!

1. Character Ugly Sweater Contest

Like an ugly sweater contest, but make it literary.

Hosting a character ugly sweater contest is the perfect way to combine characterization with a little holiday fun. This activity seamlessly blends creative artwork with analytical writing, challenging students to design a Christmas sweater for a literary character. Start with a blank ugly sweater template . Then, let students have fun decorating an “ugly” sweater that represents their chosen character, including quotes, images, symbols, adjectives, and more. Have each student write a paragraph analysis explaining their choices, turning a classic festive sweater into an opportunity for character exploration and analysis.

Alternatively, you can have your students create symbolic sweaters representing a theme or an entire novel!

2. Winter-Themed Poetry

A perfect writing activity for December and beyond.

If you’re looking to steer clear of specific holidays, winter-themed poetry is the perfect option. Encourage your students to explore the beauty of winter through the lens of poetry. This is a perfect opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge of figurative language and poetic devices. Students will have a blast bringing winter to life through symbolism, metaphors, personification, symbolism, onomatopoeia, and more! To add an extra layer of creativity, have students exchange and illustrate each other’s poems, putting their descriptive writing to the ultimate test. Then, they can go around matching the illustrations to the poems.

If you want to kick up the holiday spirit, have your students write magically descriptive poems about abstract concepts, like holiday cheer, or concrete images, like a Christmas tree.

3. “Paint” a Picture with Sensory Details

Oh, what fun it is to write with sensory details!

Looking for a quick yet effective writing activity this December? This is it. Challenge students to describe the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures associated with the holidays. Whether it’s the scent of gingerbread, a twinkling Christmas tree, or the soft crunch of snow under your boots, students bring classic holiday settings or items to life with this fun writing challenge. Encourage them to create a description by combining descriptive writing and as many of the five senses as possible.

Want to add a little twist? Have students share their descriptions, and their peers guess the holiday element based on the vivid sensory details.

4. Holiday Memories

Practice narrative writing with a holiday twist.

Teaching narrative writing is a must in the secondary classroom, and it certainly comes with its challenges. Luckily, December is the perfect time to inspire and engage students in narrative writing prompts. Rather than the dreaded “I have nothing to write about” roadblock, students tend to have more to say regarding their favorite holiday memories and traditions. Challenge them to delve into their most cherished holiday memories, describing them with great detail through sensory language and imagery. Remind students that their pieces should make the reader feel like they were also experiencing the moment.

This reflective exercise sharpens narrative writing skills while tapping into the magic of the holidays.

5. “Roll Out” a Holiday Story

Another festive activity to help students surpass writer’s block.

Break through the “what do I write about” roadblock with the “Roll Out” A Holiday Story activity. Select six holiday-related options for classic story elements such as character, setting, conflict, and theme. Assign each option a number 1-6 so when students roll the dice for each component, it will determine a brainstorm for their narrative. Not only does this spark creativity, it also gives each student something more specific to write about while leaving plenty of room for creative fun. These unique plots often turn out festive and sweet or ridiculously funny, making them a joy to read.

This engaging exercise transforms the (often dreaded) writing process into a fun and festive game, making it both entertaining and intellectually stimulating.

6. A Festive Argument

Teenagers love to argue, right? So, why not make it festive?

While this activity has the main elements of a classic argumentative writing activity, it has a festive twist. Rather than choosing from traditional argumentative prompts regarding social media or school uniforms, provide students with a list of holiday-themed topics to take a stance on. This writing activity requires them to employ persuasive and argumentative writing techniques, incorporating ethos, pathos, and logos, to make their case. Despite the holiday twist, students must articulate their opinions in a structured and convincing manner.

Some favorite topics include arguing for the best Christmas tradition, holiday movie, or winter activity. Feel free to steal these for your classroom!

7. A Children’s Christmas Book

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas story?

This activity is a great way to review plot structure and get into the Christmas spirit. Invite students to gather around as you read a few of your favorite Christmas stories before encouraging them to write (and illustrate) one of their own. Students will craft holiday tales, bringing the magic of storytelling to life through words and illustrations. It’s also a perfect opportunity for students to exercise their knowledge of theme and descriptive writing. Spread the cheer by teaming up with a local elementary classroom and having your students read their stories to the younger kids.

Remember, it’s possible that some of your students don’t celebrate Christmas. Adjust this activity to best reflect your students’ winter holidays and traditions.

8. A Recipe for the Perfect Holiday

Talk about a recipe for festive fun!

Writing about abstract concepts can be challenging for students. That’s where this activity comes into play. Rather than the pressure of diving into an abstract concept in an analytical essay, students will transform holiday-related abstract ideas into concrete creations with this fun and creative writing activity. Instead of writing a recipe for holiday food, students will write their recipe for the perfect holiday. Students must create a list of “ingredients” before bringing it all together with a step-by-step process. Since holidays mean something different to each person based on their experiences and traditions, this is a personalized activity packed with meaning.

Have students bring in their favorite holiday recipe (for an actual food or beverage) to share with the class and serve as inspiration for the elements of a recipe.

9. Gingerbread House Listing

Get ready for a tasty treat of persuasive writing!

In this writing activity, students aren’t necessarily decorating gingerbread houses, but they are trying to sell them. Have students put on their realtor hats and use persuasive writing to “sell” their very own gingerbread house. Students will draw a gingerbread house before creating a compelling real-estate listing, attempting to convince you to make a purchase. I recommend having students review actual house listings first to get inspiration and build a stronger understanding of what to include. This hands-on approach combines real-life writing with creativity and holiday fun.

You can take this a step further by letting your students actually build their gingerbread houses for a delicious extension activity!

Even More Holiday Writing Activities

Ho, ho, ho no it doesn’t end there! Here are a few more holiday writing activities to sprinkle into your plans over the next few weeks.

• Assign festive bell ringers
• Write a Christmas dialogue
• Provide holiday story starters
• Create Christmas movie character diary entries
• Write creative holiday-themed news articles
• Take a stance on the great real vs. fake tree debate
• Correct grammar in holiday-themed sentences

So Much Holiday Writing Fun to Have, So Little Time

If you’re like me, you may want to do all of the things. But trying to do that (in the weeks leading up to the holiday break, no less) is enough to drive any teacher insane. And I’m all for supporting teachers in maintaining their sanity during these next few weeks. In fact, if you need some tips to help you do so, check out my teacher’s guide to surviving the holiday season .

If you’re torn between choosing from multiple writing activities in this post, consider doing a Holiday writing choice board. Your middle school students will love the freedom to select a writing activity that resonates with their interests. The element of choice promotes a sense of ownership over their writing while keeping students engaged and focused on festive yet meaningful activities leading up to winter break.

It’s Time to Get Festive!

Rather than fighting to get your students to pay attention, channel their festive spirit into meaningful classroom experiences. Trust me, it works wonders. So, if your students normally moan and groan when you assign writing, get ready for a change! Middle school students always eat these festive writing activities up.

What other fun and festive writing activities do you have to add to the list? Let me know in a comment below!

Looking to incorporate even more holiday fun in your classroom? Here are 8 more festive ELA activities to try !

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.