Young Poets Society

Why should fiction writers have all the fun of building new (or old) realities? In this class, we will use found poetry, black out poems, acrostic poems, character development, respons poems, and more. We will analyze and critique the world we live in and its rules, and then work to construct our own - how we want things to be.

Ever wonder what makes a great film script? Is it the characters? The scene creation? What about the major plot twist that makes you go: ‘Woah, I didn’t see that coming’? For four weeks we’ll be the writers and producers of our own mini scripts. Together, we'll brainstorm ideas, and before we start writing, we’ll have them pressure-tested by a group of critics—helping us understand the structure of a screenplay and why each part matters. Then we’ll craft our first drafts, cast them, and hold a table reading. We’ll take notes, rewrite, and finish with a three-act script we can table read for family and friends.

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.