Gifted Writers Academy

CURRENTLY ENROLLING FOR NEW CLASSES BEGINNING THIS SEPTEMBER

After 23 years of in-person classes, Gifted Arts for Writers shifted online to become Gifted Writers Academy in the summer of 2020. Moving to an online course attracts a greater diversity of students whose broad array of backgrounds, ideas, and critical observations benefit the entire program. It also means the course is no longer restricted by geography. Gifted Writers Academy is open to middle school students (grades 6-8) and high school students (grades 9-12).

The writing essentials course delves into fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and drama. Once writers have completed this first level, they have the opportunity remain in the program utilizing different options including new content, weekly writing prompts, one-to-one feedback, interviews with professional writers, artists, and educators, and the community forum with our academy writers.

For the writing essentials class, lessons are posted each week along with exercises, video tutorials, and informative writing materials for students to access each day. Live Zoom classes are held regularly and writers may also sign up for the option of having direct one-on-one instruction. High school students and adult writers will also have access to a private Facebook group or the website’s Community Forum to continue conversations and share materials with other students and instructors. Middle school writers will be able to remain in a closed community on the Writers Academy website due to Facebook age restrictions.

Former longtime Gifted Writers Academy students will also be working as mentor instructors. All of them are exceptional writers and experts at providing feedback for revision. 

Most importantly, Gifted Writers Academy will continue to be fun, instructive, and focus on building a sense of community.

The visual arts classes will continue under the name of Gifted Arts. Saint Louis University associate professor, Terri Shay, will be teaching painting and drawing classes online. 

Stay tuned for a resumption of the ceramics and printmaking courses.