Our team-based storytelling programs will transform your child into a joyful writer... and a published author!
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Spring Afterschool
These virtual, 13-week, team-based storytelling workshops are the perfect way to accomplish the epic feat of co-authoring an original book this spring!
Available Timeslots:
Mondays 7:30-8:30 PM ET
Tuesdays 4:30-5:30PM ET
Wednesdays 7:30-8:30PM ET
Thursdays 4:30-5:30PM ET
Myth & Magic
Alohamora! Unlock the secrets behind stories like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson - what makes them too good to put down? You will not only meet regularly with a group of kindred spirits to co-author an original book, but you will also learn about mythical and magical world-building in stories, and how these elements can put your audience under a powerful spell of escapism. By the end of the program, you'll emerge, triumphantly clutching your crew's new, original story!
$429
March 20 - June 12
Open to all kids ages 9+
Meets 1hr/wk.
REGISTRATION CLOSED. If you have any questions about late registration, please reach out to support@writtenoutloud.org
Call To Adventure
Pack the bags of your imagination, because this is your calling to set out on an epic, creative journey with your new team of kindred spirits. This program transforms young fans of Magic Tree House, Dog Man, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid into first-time published authors! Meet every week with your dedicated Story Director and your band of teammates, drawing from your love of your favorite stories to co-author an original book that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$429
March 20 - June 12
Open to all kids ages 7+
Meets 1hr/wk.
SOLD OUT. If you have any questions about late registration, please reach out to support@writtenoutloud.org
Myth & Magic
Alohamora! Unlock the secrets behind stories like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson - what makes them too good to put down? You will not only meet regularly with a group of kindred spirits to co-author an original book, but you will also learn about mythical and magical world-building in stories, and how these elements can put your audience under a powerful spell of escapism. By the end of the program, you'll emerge, triumphantly clutching your crew's new, original story!
$429
March 20 - June 12
Open to all kids ages 9+
Meets 1hr/wk.
REGISTRATION CLOSED. If you have any questions about late registration, please reach out to support@writtenoutloud.org
Call To Adventure
Pack the bags of your imagination, because this is your calling to set out on an epic, creative journey with your new team of kindred spirits. This program transforms young fans of Magic Tree House, Dog Man, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid into first-time published authors! Meet every week with your dedicated Story Director and your band of teammates, drawing from your love of your favorite stories to co-author an original book that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$429
March 20 - June 12
Open to all kids ages 7+
Meets 1hr/wk.
SOLD OUT. If you have any questions about late registration, please reach out to support@writtenoutloud.org
The Young Novelist's Program
Then you’ll begin your First Draft Writing Sprint - which is actually a joy, once you’ve cracked your structure. You’ll turn in your first draft on August 1 - no ifs, ands, or excuses.
Finally, after some deep and detailed feedback, you’ll revise your draft into your final manuscript, which is due to the Written Out Loud Publishing Division on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, September 1.
Then - the moment you’ve been waiting for - you’ll receive a copy of your published book in your hands before the year is out, either in the mail, or better yet, in person, on the campus of Yale University, at Written Out Loud StoryCon 2023.
$899
6 Month Program | March 20 - Sept 1
3/20 to 6/12 | Meets 1hr/wk | Story Breaking
6/20 to 8/1 | First Draft Sprint
8/7 to 9/1 | Revision and Submission
9/1 Final Manuscript Due
REGISTRATION CLOSED. If you have any questions about late registration, please reach out to support@writtenoutloud.org
The Young Novelist's Program
This is it. It's your year to write YOUR book.
By popular demand, Written Out Loud is proud to present The Novelist’s Program, which offers the proven benefit of our small-group peer structure, as well as the freedom to write every word of your own book.
This is a six-month, three phase program for serious, dedicated writers only, ages 11 and up. In phase 1, you’ll meet once per week (virtually) with a small group of fellow novelists, plus a Story Director, who will help you “break” your story - that means get down your outline and structure.
Then you’ll begin your First Draft Writing Sprint - which is actually a joy, once you’ve cracked your structure. You’ll turn in your first draft on August 1 - no ifs, ands, or excuses.
Finally, after some deep and detailed feedback, you’ll revise your draft into your final manuscript, which is due to the Written Out Loud Publishing Division on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, September 1.
Then - the moment you’ve been waiting for - you’ll receive a copy of your published book in your hands before the year is out, either in the mail, or better yet, in person, on the campus of Yale University, at Written Out Loud StoryCon 2023.
$899
6 Month Program | March 20 - Sept 1
3/20 to 6/12 | Meets 1hr/wk | Story Breaking
6/20 to 8/1 | First Draft Sprint
8/7 to 9/1 | Revision and Submission
9/1 Final Manuscript Due
REGISTRATION CLOSED. If you have any questions about late registration, please reach out to support@writtenoutloud.org
Summer Camps
These virtual team-based storytelling camps are the perfect way to make friends and write a whole book in JUST TWO WEEKS!
Session 1: June 20 - June 29
Session 2: July 3 - July 13
Session 3: July 17 - July 27
Session 4: July 31 - August 10
Meets Monday-Thursday for 2hr/day.
Note: We will observe Juneteenth, so Session 1 will start Tuesday, June 20 and hold its makeup session for the holiday on Friday, June 23. We will also observe July 4th, so Session 2 will begin on July 3, and have its makeup session for the holiday on Friday, July 7.
Myth & Magic
Alohamora! Unlock the secrets behind stories like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson - what makes them too good to put down? You will not only meet regularly with a group of kindred spirits to co-author an original book, but you will also learn about mythical and magical world-building in stories, and how these elements can put your audience under a powerful spell of escapism. By the end of the camp, you'll emerge, triumphantly clutching your crew's new, original story!
$529
Available June 20 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 9+
Heroes & Villains
When you watch Marvel movies or shows like The Mandalorian, do you ever wish you could decide your hero's fate? This camp lets you create the next beloved fictional universe! Gather daily with fellow storytelling heroes like yourself to build the hero and villain characters of your wildest imagination, then co-write a whole story about them with your team to see if Good can vanquish Evil once again!
$529
Available Jun 20 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 9+
Call To Adventure
Pack the bags of your imagination, because this is your calling to set out on an epic, creative journey with your new team of kindred spirits. This camp transforms young fans of Magic Tree House, Dog Man, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid into first-time published authors! Meet daily with your dedicated Story Director and your band of teammates, drawing from your love of your favorite stories to co-author an original book that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
Available Jun 20 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 7+
Realistic Fiction
Have you watched The Office and Mean Girls about, oh I don't know, a million times? Same here. In this Realistic Fiction camp, we'll explore our favorite shows that keep us rooted in reality, yet somehow turn the "everyday" into a bingeable masterpiece. Along with a group of creative teammates, led by a dedicated Story Director, you will co-author an original Realistic Fiction book in the span of two weeks that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
SESSION 2 ONLY
July 3 - July 17
Open to all kids ages 10+
Dystopian
Does the futuristic, dystopian world of The Hunger Games grip your attention with its fascinating glimpse into what could be? Is Utopia too tame for your story-hungry brain? If so, you belong in our Dystopian camp! Along with a group of creative teammates, led by a dedicated Story Director, you will co-author an original Dystopian book in the span of two weeks that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
SESSION 3 ONLY
July 17 - July 27
Open to all kids ages 10+
Mystery
Whodunnit? Now you get to decide! In our Mystery camp you'll be in charge of placing clues and shocking plot twists in front of your readers. Along with your team of fellow Mystery fans, led by a dedicated Story Director, you will co-author an original Mystery book in the span of two weeks that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
SESSION 4 ONLY
July 31 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 10+
College Essay Bootcamp
Open to all kids on the verge of applying to college! It's one of the most important pieces of writing you may do in your life. Our small-group peer structure will help you crack the code, and emerge with exactly the essay you're hoping for. Let us help you win over your dream schools!
$529
SESSION 2 ONLY
July 3 - July 13
Ages 16+
Myth & Magic
Alohamora! Unlock the secrets behind stories like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson - what makes them too good to put down? You will not only meet regularly with a group of kindred spirits to co-author an original book, but you will also learn about mythical and magical world-building in stories, and how these elements can put your audience under a powerful spell of escapism. By the end of the camp, you'll emerge, triumphantly clutching your crew's new, original story!
$529
Available June 20 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 9+
Heroes & Villains
When you watch Marvel movies or shows like The Mandalorian, do you ever wish you could decide your hero's fate? This camp lets you create the next beloved fictional universe! Gather daily with fellow storytelling heroes like yourself to build the hero and villain characters of your wildest imagination, then co-write a whole story about them with your team to see if Good can vanquish Evil once again!
$529
Available Jun 20 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 9+
Call To Adventure
Pack the bags of your imagination, because this is your calling to set out on an epic, creative journey with your new team of kindred spirits. This camp transforms young fans of Magic Tree House, Dog Man, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid into first-time published authors! Meet daily with your dedicated Story Director and your band of teammates, drawing from your love of your favorite stories to co-author an original book that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
Available Jun 20 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 7+
Realistic Fiction
Have you watched The Office and Mean Girls about, oh I don't know, a million times? Same here. In this Realistic Fiction camp, we'll explore our favorite shows that keep us rooted in reality, yet somehow turn the "everyday" into a bingeable masterpiece. Along with a group of creative teammates, led by a dedicated Story Director, you will co-author an original Realistic Fiction book in the span of two weeks that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
SESSION 2 ONLY
July 3 - July 17
Open to all kids ages 10+
Dystopian
Does the futuristic, dystopian world of The Hunger Games grip your attention with its fascinating glimpse into what could be? Is Utopia too tame for your story-hungry brain? If so, you belong in our Dystopian camp! Along with a group of creative teammates, led by a dedicated Story Director, you will co-author an original Dystopian book in the span of two weeks that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
SESSION 3 ONLY
July 17 - July 27
Open to all kids ages 10+
Mystery
Whodunnit? Now you get to decide! In our Mystery camp you'll be in charge of placing clues and shocking plot twists in front of your readers. Along with your team of fellow Mystery fans, led by a dedicated Story Director, you will co-author an original Mystery book in the span of two weeks that we will publish and mail to your doorstep!
$529
SESSION 4 ONLY
July 31 - Aug 10
Open to all kids ages 10+
College Essay Bootcamp
Open to all kids on the verge of applying to college! It's one of the most important pieces of writing you may do in your life. Our small-group peer structure will help you crack the code, and emerge with exactly the essay you're hoping for. Let us help you win over your dream schools!
$529
SESSION 2 ONLY
July 3 - July 13
Ages 16+
courageous STEPS TOWARDS HEROIC confidence
Your Book Writing Journey
Meet
Your New Team
To begin your journey, click on our provided Zoom link... and find yourself face-to-face with your new team of Storytellers, and your amazing Story Director! Share what you love about your favorite stories, and feel the unbreakable bonds of fellowship start to form...
Unlock
Storytelling Secrets
Your Story Director teaches you the craft of skillful storytelling, revealing coveted secrets with each lesson. Practice honing these techniques with your teammates, and feel your courage and ability to captivate an audience grow stronger with each session...
Complete
Storytelling Missions
Between sessions, put your ideas into your own original stories and chapters. Share your writing during sessions and get helpful feedback from teammates!
Your ultimate mission? Write a book. You won't believe how fun this will be when accomplished with your team!
Become
A Published Author
With your final mission complete, your Story Director will send your story off to be published. Within two months your published, co-authored book will arrive on your doorstep!
We will be eagerly waiting to welcome you back for your next journey!
The Call To Adventure is never far...
Frequently asked questions
We've Got Answers!
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Will My Child Learn Writing, Or Just Storytelling?
We believe that forcing a child to write is the quickest way to get them to dislike it. But if you begin by inspiring a child to speak...to tell stories out loud, starting with the ones they know by heart (think Harry Potter, Marvel, even video games)... then the child's spoken voice acts as a scaffolding: a platform upon which an organic desire to write can be built.
We see it time and time again: our practice of small-group, out-loud storytelling inspires the best kind of writing: the kind your child can fall in love with.
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Why Teach Writing In Groups?
In Hollywood, every single TV show is written in two phases. First, the story is "broken," out loud, in a writers' room of a handful of people. It is only after the story is "broken"- shaped, visualized, and agreed upon by the group - that it is written down by individuals in the text-based form.
Kids respond well to this two-phase process because "breaking" a story is HARD WORK. Especially alone. But in a small group, led by one of our Story Directors, story breaking is transformed into a joyful, shared journey, one that your child and their fellow crew members will carry together with ease, laughter, and a proud feeling of team-based accomplishment.
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Are Classes Open to Kids and Families in My Time Zone?
Yes! Every one of our classes is open to children in EVERY U.S. and Canada time zone. Most of our classes contain kids from across the country, meeting together in the shared playspace of their imagination.
Pay close attention when you register. PROGRAM TIME OPTIONS ARE LISTED IN EASTERN TIME. But they are open to families in ALL U.S. and Canada time zones.
i.e. If a class is scheduled to meet Mondays at 4:30pm ET, it also meets at 3:30pm CT, 2:30pm MT, 1:30pm PT, etc. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY TIME ZONE CALCULATIONS BEFORE PURCHASING.
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How Will We Receive My Child's Book?
We will mail a copy of your child's book to the address you provide at registration. We do not issue corrections (every book cover is designed by hand), so please make sure you spell your child's name exactly as you (and your child) wish it to appear on your book cover.
You will receive your child's book approximately two months after your child's last session. At that time, we will also provide you with a digital link to buy additional copies of your child's book, to give as gifts to family members, teachers, and friends.
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Does Anyone Profit From The Books?
No. Our book publication process is specifically designed to avoid any possibility of exploiting students' work for financial purposes.
The sole purpose of our book publication is to give kids a meaningful, permanent memento, honoring their creative accomplishment.
Written Out Loud does not retain any ownership of the books co-authored in our program. If your child wishes to write a sequel or continuation of any character or aspect of their Written Out Loud book, they are free to do so.
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Is Your Program In Person, or just Zoom?
Because our programs are designed to connect creative kids across the country who might otherwise never meet, most of our programs are held remotely, via Zoom.
However, we are creating more and more in-person versions of our program - typically, when a school, classroom, or homeschool registers a group of students, in bulk.
If you are a member or neighbor of a school, district, afterschool organization, homeschool, camp, friend group, or learning pod, and you would like to explore the possibility of creating an in-person Written Out Loud program in your community, please email support@writtenoutloud.org.
We would love to speak with you.
Testimonials
What Kids and Parents are Saying
"At Written Out Loud, I feel more like myself than anywhere I've ever been."
Faith, age 14
WRITTEN OUT LOUD STORYTELLER
"A lightness has come upon Hannah. She is more confident. She is truly happy. My cup overflows with gratitude for Written Out Loud."
Carolynne
WRITTEN OUT LOUD MOM
Are you ready to help your child find their voice?
