FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Wordstruck?
Wordstruck is a virtual writing collective that offers programming in prose, poetry, and expository writing for middle- and high-school students. All Wordstruck instructors are published authors who work as college professors and professional mentors. Each has a special enthusiasm for helping young writers to grow in their art.
What programs does Wordstruck offer?
Wordstruck offers Spring programming, and a yearly Summer Intensive, and year-round mentorships.
Wordstruck’s Spring programming includes month-long Saturday classes on the “Nuts & Bolts” of Storytelling and the “Nuts & Bolts” of Poetry, as well as weekly “Write-Together” classes and private, one-on-one mentorships. Please see our Spring Program page for more details on our Spring 2024 offerings.
The Wordstruck Summer Intensive is a two-week-long immersive virtual creative writing program for middle- and high-school students. Over the course of these two weeks, students participate in two daily writing workshops (in Poetry and Prose), work closely with writing mentors, experience nightly events including open-mics and readings by accomplished visiting authors, and meet friends who are similarly passionate about creative writing. Please see our Summer Program page for images from our 2022 Summer Intensive and for more details on our 2024 Summer Intensive.
Mentorships consist of private one-on-one sessions, in which a student is paired with a published, award-winning writer (creative writing) or a college professor (expository writing + creative writing). Sessions are highly individualized and focused, with instructors choosing readings, writing exercises, and revision strategies that best suit the student’s needs. Mentorships are a great option for students who are seriously invested in growing as a writer or who are working toward a specific goal with their writing.
What requirements are there for Wordstruck?
All Wordstruck students must have access to a computer with a stable internet connection. They must also be open-minded and eager to learn.
How old do you have to be to attend Wordstruck?
Wordstruck welcomes students ages 11–14 into its Middle School program and students 15–17 into its High School program.
Where is Wordstruck programming held?
All Wordstruck programming, including both its Spring offerings and Summer Intensive, are held virtually via Zoom. For the Summer Intensive, this includes all workshops, student-instructor conferences, and afternoon/evening events. Zoom IDs and passcodes will be provided to parents and students in advance.
When will the Wordstruck Summer Intensive program be held?
The Wordstruck Summer Intensive Middle School program and High School program will be held Monday July 15 to Friday July 26, 2024. One genre workshop (poetry or prose) will be held Monday–Friday from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Eastern), and the other will be held Monday–Friday from 2:00 to 3:30 pm (Eastern). Special events will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
How much does Wordstruck cost?
Please see our rates listed on our Register page.
What are the benefits of attending Wordstruck?
Students come away from all Wordstruck programs equipped to better read, write, and discuss prose and/or poetry. They will have worked with professional, published writers and (for those in group classes) will have met other young people as passionate about writing as they are.
Wordstruck’s Summer Intensive students complete the program equipped to better read, write, and discuss prose and poetry. In all, they will have worked with at least a dozen professional, published writers, and have met other young people as passionate about writing as they are. They will also have assembled a portfolio of their own creative work for future use.
Those students interested in expository writing will learn how to craft compelling essays, personal statements, and more—developing writing skills that are essential for succeeding in high school, college, and beyond.