The Paraclete Academy's Creative Writing project emphasizes three fundamental secrets known by all great authors:

• Be specific.
  Great authors write with specific descriptions. They don't write "car." Instead, they write "a 1984 gray Chevy Nova with a missing headlight." Not a "dog" but a "black lab named Boo."
• Use your senses.
  Great authors describe what they see, hear, feel, taste AND smell! So the next time you sit down to describe your trip to the beach, don't write "I went to the beach and saw the ocean." Tell us everything going on there.
• Go back and make it better.
  Get your initial ideas down on paper, then go back through and add (or subtract) where you need to. Fix grammar and spelling last. Don't let "mental editing" prevent you from getting your good ideas on paper because Creative Writing is a little like brainstorming...there are no right or wrong answers.

Students are encouraged to look at writing as a fun, expressive activity, emphasizing creative ideas first, grammar second (this is not an English/grammar class!) Students will learn and practice some fundamental secrets every award-winning author knows.

• Students learn how to describe scenes (and people) using all five senses
• Students practice thinking and writing from different points-of-view
• Students discover what "images" are, and how to use them in writing

• All students who complete the class will choose their best work for publication in the Paraclete Center's literary magazine.
• students' work may be published on the Paraclete Center web site.

By reading and evaluating excerpts from famous authors, students will develop critical reading and editing skills. Students will apply those skills to their own creative writing pieces as well as other students' pieces. Emphasis is place don peer consultation and peer editing. Meets once a week for 6 weeks. Open only to students who have completed Creative Writing.

• Confidence building.
  By critiquing famous authors, students will learn that no piece is perfect but that doesn't mean it isn't good.
• Critical thinking.
  Students will learn to recognize strengths and weaknesses in writing without heavy teacher involvement. This includes learning how to give, receive and when appropriate ignore constructive criticism.
• Understanding of audience.
  Students will experience writing for their peers, not a teacher.

Students will be guided in exploring possible publication outside of the Paraclete (South Boston online, literary magazines for children, web resources, etc)

Additionally, student work will still be published on the Paraclete web site.