Creative Escape & Connection

Expressive writing program for 6th - 8th grade girls*

Middle school brings unique challenges, and this program is designed to meet the needs of young writers during this formative time. TIWP creates a supportive environment for students to escape into the creative writing process, where they can be playful and find joy in the stories and worlds they create. We also provide a safe space for students to develop Emotional and Social Intelligence (ESI) through the writing process. Teachers encourage and model authenticity, peer support, and self confidence. Each session involves an inspirational reading, a writing prompt, and time to share and receive feedback.

As with all our programs, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer, all feedback is focused on the strengths of the writer, and our unique writing voice will continually grow clearer and stronger, the more it is expressed and encouraged.

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Instructors, depending on class time:  Melissa Quiter, Gretchen Cion, or Elizabeth Perlman

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• *Girls includes all gender-expansive youth.

• Enrollment occurs quarterly (our schedule is based on the Acalanes District academic calendar) but tuition is pro-rated depending on the day you register. If your child doesn’t absolutely love their first class, we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose writing purely for the joy of it!

• Private and homeschooling classes available upon request.

• See Tuition page for details.
  
  For questions or to talk in more depth, contact our Director of Programs, Melissa Quiter.

REGISTER FOR
FALL QUARTER

REGISTER FOR
SUMMER QUARTER

Poetic Playlist
The Poetry and Insights of Female Songwriters for 8-10th grade girls

In this program, girls will explore the lyrics of celebrated female songwriters who have used their voices and their words as a means to challenge, inspire and comfort us. We will touch on story and song structure through a diverse catalogue of artists. As writers, we will be seeking the music of our lives, channeling our inner poetess and lyricist. Each writer will curate their own compilation of work influenced by music from the course collection and their own life’s playlist.

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As with all our programs, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer, all feedback is focused on the strengths of the writer, and our unique writing voice will continually grow clearer and stronger, the more it is expressed and encouraged.
 

Instructor: Gretchen Cion

​

• *Girls includes all gender-expansive youth.

• Enrollment occurs quarterly (our schedule is based on the Acalanes District academic calendar) but tuition is pro-rated depending on the day you register. If your child doesn’t absolutely love their first class, we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose writing purely for the joy of it!

• Private and homeschooling classes available upon request.

• See Tuition page for details.

For questions or to talk in more depth, contact our Director of Programs, Melissa Quiter.

REGISTER FOR 
FALL QUARTER

REGISTER FOR
SUMMER QUARTER

Create Your Own Class or Camp
Creative writing program for 5th - 7th grade girls*

Is your child an aspiring playwright or an intrepid journalist? Is she obsessed with Harry Potter, Keeper of the Lost Cities, or a particular book series? Does she love hiking and poetry, graphic novels and sports. The teachers of The Intuitive Writing Project are excited to create tailor-made classes for small groups of kids. Gather a group of friends together with similar interests and we will match you with the perfect teacher.

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As with all our programs, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer, all feedback is focused on the strengths of the writer, and our unique writing voice will continually grow clearer and stronger, the more it is expressed and encouraged.

​

Instructors:  Gretchen Cion, Melissa Quiter or Elizabeth Perlman
 

• *Girls includes all gender-expansive youth.

• Enrollment occurs quarterly (our schedule is based on the Acalanes District academic calendar) but tuition is pro-rated depending on the day you register. If your child doesn’t absolutely love their first class, we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose writing purely for the joy of it!

• Private and homeschooling classes available upon request.

• See Tuition page for details.

For questions or to talk in more depth, contact our Director of Programs, Melissa Quiter.

REGISTER FOR
FALL QUARTER

REGISTER FOR
SUMMER QUARTER

Dystopian Summer Camp
Exploring the world of fiction for 6th-8th graders, all genders

Are you interested in world-building futuristic realities and creating characters that are up against the odds? Are you looking for a way to process life in the pandemic? Welcome to Dystopia!, a class where we will explore the fundamentals of dystopian writing from character archetypes and power dynamics to systemic obstacles in our imagined societies. Writers will craft intricate plotlines that have both clarity and dimension, finding inspiration in current events and societal issues. We will learn craft moves like pacing and external character detailing from revered dystopian authors like Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood and George Orwell.

As with all our programs, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer, all feedback is focused on the strengths of the writer, and our unique writing voice will continually grow clearer and stronger, the more it is expressed and encouraged.

​

Instructor: Gretchen Cion

​

• Class size at 4-6. If your child doesn’t absolutely love their first class, we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose this camp purely for the joy of it.
  
  For questions or to talk in more depth, contact our Director of Programs, Melissa Quiter.

REGISTER FOR
FALL QUARTER

REGISTER FOR
SUMMER QUARTER

Filmmaking: Digital Shorts Camp
Short format filmmaking for 6th-8th graders, all genders

Are you interested in making movies? This program is for aspiring filmmakers who are ready to structure, storyboard, shoot and share their very own digital short. We'll talk about ideation and filming tactics, scriptwriting and editing a piece, working toward a three-minute short film. Most importantly, we'll play with the form. Students will need to have access to a phone or other digital device for filming and a computer for editing their work. Pieces will be polished and ready for submission to film festivals at the week's end!

As with all our programs, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer, all feedback is focused on the strengths of the writer, and our unique writing voice will continually grow clearer and stronger, the more it is expressed and encouraged.

​

Instructor: Gretchen Cion

​

• Class size at 4-6. If your child doesn’t absolutely love their first class, we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose this camp purely for the joy of it!
  
  For questions or to talk in more depth, contact our Director of Programs, Melissa Quiter.

REGISTER FOR
FALL QUARTER

REGISTER FOR
SUMMER QUARTER