Anthologies

Calling all kid-journalists and fiction writers! With a home base at the Cornerstone and an adventure-scape of the entire neighborhood, Our Uptown will be the perfect avenue for diving into our community. In this workshop, we will hone our journalistic skills by interviewing the people who run, work at, and visit our favorite neighborhood spots. Every place has a story, especially in Washington Heights, and we’re eager to learn it! Once our research is complete we’ll write poetry, fiction, and more, inspired by these vibrant visits and interviews. From Buunni Coffee to Oasis Deli, meet people who connect you to our community, feed our souls, and inspire you to write your best work.

What do K-Pop Demon Hunters, Star Wars, and The Hunger Games have in common? They all started as great ideas, that were turned into awesome stories, then into unbelievable movies. If you have a great movie idea, here's your chance to get busy writing it down. Make your story jump off the page and onto the screen!

We'll show you how to write a mini-script just like the professionals that includes scene headings, dialogue, transitions, and camera shots. You'll work with your fellow screenwriters to get and give suggestions as you all write the next summer blockbuster. Ideas for action, comedy, drama or anything in between are welcome! At the end of the session, you'll bring your film to life, acting it out with your classmates in front of an audience packed with your family and friends.

There’s always more to learn, fiction writers! Come build on the skills you’ve already got, and dig deeper into the qualities that give all the best stories that extra POP.

Whichever genre of fiction you prefer (historical, fantasy, realistic, etc.) is welcome! We’ll focus on the fine details that will take your writing from good to great: natural, character-driven dialogue; proper pacing; inciting incidents; raising the stakes; plot-twists; and, of course, the art of the satisfying ending. We’ll look to our favorite fiction writers for inspiration, and discover new works worthy of your attention.

This workshop is for writers who feel familiar with the basics of character, setting, plot, and description, and want to continue to grow. But it’s not as serious as it sounds! You are the curriculum — just bring your whole self!

*This workshop is made possible through a partnership with Ava’s Smile, in honor of Ava Hecht’s legacy of creativity and compassion.*