The Intuitive Writing Project
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Writing by the Water

Middle School 
Programs 

For girls + gender-expansive youth, grades 6th - 8th

Creative
Connection:

Creative writing for middle school girls*

*Girls includes all gender-expansive youth.
 

  • Enrollment occurs quarterly and tuition is pro-rated depending on the day you register. You can read about tuition here.
     

  • If your child doesn't absolutely love their first class, just let us know before the second class and we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose writing, purely for the joy of it!
     

  • To learn more about some of our amazing teachers, check out this episode of our Intuitive Writing Podcast.

Colorful Notebooks _edited.jpg

Creative Connection is designed to support the Emotional and Social Intelligence (ESI) and creative empowerment of girls during their formative middle school years. We provide a playful environment for students to escape into the creative writing process, where they can find joy and self-mastery in the stories and worlds they create. We also provide a safe space for students to address any personal challenges they may be facing through the structured container of the Amherst Writing Method.* Our teachers encourage and model authenticity, peer support, and self-confidence. Each session involves an inspirational reading, imaginative writing prompts, and time to write, share and receive feedback.

*At The Intuitive Writing Project, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer with their own unique voice. We support the discovery and development of one’s voice by ensuring that all feedback remains positive, focused on the strength of the writing. The more students write and share, the more they learn to believe in themselves, both as writers and as people.

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Instructors:  Gretchen Cion, Melissa Quiter, and Elana Joy

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Spring:

Tuesdays, 4:15 - 5:45pm (on Zoom)
Thursdays, 4:15 - 5:45pm (on Zoom)

Thursdays, 3 - 4:40pm (at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate)

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Summer: 
Tuesdays, 4:15-5:45 (on Zoom)

Thursdays, 4:15-5:45 (on Zoom)

Wednesdays, 4-5:30pm (in Lamorinda)

Poetic Playlist
 

The Poetry and Insights of Female Songwriters for 8th-12th grade girls*

*Girls includes all gender-expansive youth.
 

  • Enrollment occurs quarterly and tuition is pro-rated depending on the day you register. You can read about tuition here.
     

  • If your child doesn't absolutely love their first class, just let us know before the second class and we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose writing, purely for the joy of it!
     

  • To learn more about some of our amazing teachers, check out this episode of our Intuitive Writing Podcast.

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 catalog 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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At The Intuitive Writing Project, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer with their own unique voice. We support the discovery and development of one’s voice by ensuring that all feedback remains positive, focused on the strength of the writing. The more students write and share, the more they learn to believe in themselves, both as writers and as people.

​

To ensure that each student gets personalized attention and mentoring, we limit class size to 6.

​

Instructor:  Gretchen Cion

​

Spring:  Sundays, 3:30pm - 5:30pm (Zoom)

Summer: Sundays, 3:30pm - 5:30pm (Zoom)

Summer:  Middle School Camp, July 8 - 12 (on Zoom)

Summer Writing Camps

Newspapers

Intro to Literary Journalism

For girls* in 7th to 12th grade

*Girls includes all gender-expansive youth.
 

  • Enrollment occurs quarterly and tuition is pro-rated depending on the day you register. You can read about tuition here
     

  • If your child doesn't absolutely love their first class, just let us know before the second class and we will provide a full refund. We want your child to choose writing, purely for the joy of it!

​

In this 4-week, introductory program, writers will explore the tenets of good journalism for advocacy, self expression and art. TIWP creates a supportive environment to use intuitive writing to discover what each writer cares most about. Writers will then experiment with ethical reporting, commitment to fact and shining light into dark corners. They’ll learn best practices with interviewing and researching and how to write with the most impact and appeal. Writers will also be exposed to the “power edit,” an essential component of speaking truth to power. Each session involves an inspirational example of literary journalism, a prompt and time to share and receive feedback. Writers will be encouraged to build their own piece of literary journalism, which TIWP will publish on our literary blog, The Intuitive Voice.
 

At The Intuitive Writing Project, we use the Amherst Writing Method, a methodology rooted in the belief that everyone is a writer with their own unique voice. We support the discovery and development of one’s voice by ensuring that all feedback remains positive, focused on the strength of the writing. The more students write and share, the more they learn to believe in themselves, both as writers and as people.

 

To ensure that each student gets personalized attention and mentoring, we limit class size to 6.

​

For scheduling info, contact Elizabeth

To learn more, check out our list of 7 Frequently Asked Questions, our Note for Parents, What Teens & Parents Say, our Our Commitment to Young Writers and of course our Intuitive Writing Podcast and online blog, The Intuitive Voice, where all our writers get the chance to become published authors. To schedule a more in-depth conversation about how we can best support your child's unique interests (and what class we'd recommend, if you're just getting started), contact elizabeth@intuitivewritingproject.org.
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