ho says writing can’t be fun — and challenging — at the same time? These first 20 lessons stretch not only young writers’ communication skills, but also their imaginations. Using features like movie-making techniques, interviewing skills, and newswriting, we build a foundation that both equips and motivates. Kids will enjoy themselves so much, they’ll hardly realize how much they’re learning!

We’ll emphasize skills that take writers far beyond just writing fun stories (though we’ll do plenty of that!). Foundational lessons in letter-writing, research skills, and note-taking will also help open doors to a lifetime of learning and application in other areas in life.

1. Me? A Writer?  Looking at the fun of writing, and why it’s important to know how to put our thoughts into words. As Christians, we have a story to tell. So what kind of stories do you want to write? (37 words)

2. Getting Started  Want to save yourself a lot of writing headaches? Take time up front to make sure you’re ready. Writing starts way before you start tapping keys or putting a pencil to paper. You’ll learn the habits of good writers, including how to set up your writing place. (44 words)

3. Riting 2day  We’ll sort out the differences between e-mail and standard writing, fiction and nonfiction, poetry and prose, journalism, chat … and how it all fits together. Whatever style you write, never forget your reader. (33 words)

4. What’s a Paragraph?  And how do you write a good one? Sure, this is basic. That’s why it’s lesson 4. We’ll start with narrative and descriptive paragraphs … and show you how to write each creatively. (34 words)

5. Picture This, part 1  Discover how to use movie-making techniques to write good descriptions of objects, pets, seasons, foods … the list goes on. When you learn these techniques, words can be even more powerful than movies. (33 words)

6. Picture This, part 2  Describe your best friend. Now you’re writing about someone who’s important! You’ll learn how to use the four levels of details that make a person come alive on paper. (29 words)

7. And Then and Then …  Can you explain how to do something? (Or write a story that makes sense from beginning to end?) It’s all about sequence and learning the right steps, in the right order. (31 words)

8. Just the Facts, Ma’am  We’re going to write about something we saw, tell how it happened, and then add how we felt about it. To paint the big picture, we need to know three basic things: the setting, the stage, and the struggle. (39 words)

9. Words on Deadline  You’ll learn to write like a news reporter — and recognize the ingredients of upside-down pizza. Using the key points of newspaper style can also help you in all your other writing. (31 words

10. Research Around Town  Finding ideas for articles and stories is easy once you start asking the right questions. You’ll learn how to dig up little-known facts in the place you live, then write them down for future use. (35 words)

11. Ready, set …  Before you plan a trip, you need to decide where you’re going. Here’s how to make sense of outlining techniques and other tools for getting your ideas on paper — and how to make a story map that really works. (39 words)

12. First Drafting  What can you do to make sure your first draft is the best? Here are rules for staying fresh, not getting bogged down, and keeping your creative spark alive. (Does your English teacher know this?) (35 words)

13. Putting it all Together  It’s time for juggling tennis balls. You’ve learned a dozen different ways to write like a pro. Now let’s put all those techniques together to write some short, realistic stories. (30 words)

14. Planting Time  What to do when you don’t know what to write. God has put seeds in our lives — seeds that can grow to become great stories. Here’s how story seeds work, and how to cultivate a great crop. (37 words)

15. Dear Sir or Madam  With a letter, you can take your time and say what you really mean. Maybe you’ve already written a few friendly letters. But what about when you need to write a letter to a business, or a newspaper editor, or a mayor? Here’s how to do it right. (48 words)

16. Rhymin’ Simon  Poetry communicates more intensely than most kinds of writing. Here’s how to fill it with description and emotion. In this lesson we’re getting to the core of poetry, from the inside-out. (31 words)

17. Writing @ School  Learn to develop personal note-taking skills and habits, and how to make effective use of those notes to write well, get better grades, and learn and remember more. Plus how to avoid the trap of plagiarism. (36 words)  

18. You Can Say That Again  Discover the secrets of one of the writer’s most important tools. You’ll learn how to write realistic, punchy dialogue, and use it effectively in your stories, plays, and even nonfiction stuff like reports. (33 words)

19. ‘What If’ and ‘History’  Build a time machine — stories that transport readers to the past. We’ll examine the two main flavors of historical fiction, how to recognize them, and how to combine research and imagination to write them. (34 words)

20. Who’s on First?  Whether first-person or third-person, point of view is the invisible flavor of every story you’ve ever read. We’ll examine the different viewpoints you can use — and the advantages and challenges of writing your story that way. (36 words)