Writing the Tough Stuff for Teens

A free eight-week writing workshop for teens

The teenage years are a volatile stage, full of psychological and emotional change, when young adults often become aware of significant challenges and are expected to make important decisions for the first time. This intensive free on-site writing workshop is an opportunity for students in grades 9-12 to write about subjects and challenges such as sexuality, gender identity, peer and family relationships, bullying, mental illness, racism, etc.

During this multi-week workshop at Creative Nonfiction, participants will become part of a special cohort of young adults working together. You will be given the opportunity to share and reflect on the writing process; specifically, how writing about difficult topics gives the writer the opportunity to investigate their life and take ownership of their experiences. In addition to learning the basics of creative nonfiction, such as crafting scenes and characters, finding your audience, and revising your work, you’ll also receive training on how to prepare a portion of your work to be performed aloud at a final “graduation” event.

Workshops will be led by author Julie Albright, owner of The Writing Studio. She has 27 years of experience providing writing workshops, tutoring, and editing services for kids and adults.

What is creative nonfiction?

Simply put, creative nonfiction is true stories, well told—factually accurate, artful prose about real people and events. “Creative nonfiction can be an essay, a journal article, a research paper, a memoir, or a poem; it can be personal or not, or it can be all of these.” — Lee Gutkind. Learn more about the genre here.

Who should apply?

Any resident of Allegheny County in grades 9–12 who has a story to share. You must also be prepared to travel to the Creative Nonfiction Foundation’s workshop space (5119 Coral Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15224) for weekly meetings.

Applications are due by September 29th, 2019.

Apply here.

Questions? Please call us at 412-404-2975 or email CNF’s Director of Education, Sharla Yates, at yates@creativenonfiction.org.