Creative writing workshops and private instruction (grade 4 through college)
10-hour minimum for private instruction. Click here to schedule.
Wether a student is struggling to engage in writing projects, feeling blocked on a project, or a prolific aspiring author dreaming of seeing their own stories in libraries some day, I'm adept at meeting them on the page, at their level, and teasing ideas and inspiration out of their favorite life experiences, memories, and dreams through fun, interactive writing-focused games and activities. I'm passionate about helping kids develop a love for great storytelling, and on guiding them towards framing their ideas into rich, coherent, well-structured narratives while also discovering and honing their own unique tone and voice through language.
Working with individuals allows for faster progress, and more personal support, but there is also great value in joining a small workshop with other writers at a similar level, to share work, learn together, and engage in constructive writing activities in pairs and as a group. For writers of all levels, group feedback is an invaluable tool to refining writing and understanding how the words we write are heard and received by others. Often, groups that start together enjoy continuing through several terms, too, which allows students to keep learning from each other's progress and stories.
If the dates or times below don't match your schedule, get in touch anyway—often, with small groups, there is some flexibility, and new workshops are frequently planned and added.
Spring online 2023 workshops:
Click here to reserve your spot! (Max 6 students per class)
Grades 6 to 9
8 Saturdays from April 8 to June 10 (no classes May 20 & 27)
11:00 am to 12:30 pm ET/ 8:00 am to 9:30 am PT
Grades 7 to 12
8 Fridays from April 7 to June 9 (no classes May 19 & 26)
6:00 to 7:30 pm ET / 3:00 to 4:30 pm PT
What other parents and students have to say:
"Lorraine makes writing fun, and we’ve seen our kids' interest and understanding of story expand in wonderful ways, both on the page, and also in their conversations and thinking outside of the class context. Lorraine is focused and kind, thoughtful and rigorous, and she knows how to break down the act of storytelling in ways that are very helpful in terms of both craft and imagination.
She’s also been a great communicator with us, the parents, regarding what the kids are up to, as well as her observations on their strengths as well as areas where they might benefit from additional attention. It was a stroke of good luck for us to find Lorraine to work with our kids — she has brought creative writing to life for them in an inspiring way that I am certain will stay with them." Ira Sachs, Kirsten Johnson
"My son struggled to get three paragraphs out, and it was making homework and, increasingly, school as a whole, unbearable. Lorraine's gentle approach to helping Marc use language as a written tool has been invaluable to his education these past couple of years. He is an almost prolific writer of stories now, and his academic success is largely owed to Lorraine's patience and inspiration."
Susan Wilson
"I've grown to think that every writing instructor should also be trained as an art therapist, after seeing our two kids, while working with Lorraine and talking (non-stop) about their time with her, both develop not only great writing skills, and a passion for good storytelling, but also a whole new sense of self-confidence as communicators, introspection, and self-awareness that wasn't there before. They loved the writing games she played with them, and still play them with each other sometimes."
John M.
"My kids can't get enough of Lorraine. We still talk about her years later and hope someday our kids will get to work with her again."
Lauren Palermo
10-hour minimum for private instruction. Click here to schedule.
Wether a student is struggling to engage in writing projects, feeling blocked on a project, or a prolific aspiring author dreaming of seeing their own stories in libraries some day, I'm adept at meeting them on the page, at their level, and teasing ideas and inspiration out of their favorite life experiences, memories, and dreams through fun, interactive writing-focused games and activities. I'm passionate about helping kids develop a love for great storytelling, and on guiding them towards framing their ideas into rich, coherent, well-structured narratives while also discovering and honing their own unique tone and voice through language.
Working with individuals allows for faster progress, and more personal support, but there is also great value in joining a small workshop with other writers at a similar level, to share work, learn together, and engage in constructive writing activities in pairs and as a group. For writers of all levels, group feedback is an invaluable tool to refining writing and understanding how the words we write are heard and received by others. Often, groups that start together enjoy continuing through several terms, too, which allows students to keep learning from each other's progress and stories.
If the dates or times below don't match your schedule, get in touch anyway—often, with small groups, there is some flexibility, and new workshops are frequently planned and added.
Spring online 2023 workshops:
Click here to reserve your spot! (Max 6 students per class)
Grades 6 to 9
8 Saturdays from April 8 to June 10 (no classes May 20 & 27)
11:00 am to 12:30 pm ET/ 8:00 am to 9:30 am PT
Grades 7 to 12
8 Fridays from April 7 to June 9 (no classes May 19 & 26)
6:00 to 7:30 pm ET / 3:00 to 4:30 pm PT
What other parents and students have to say:
"Lorraine makes writing fun, and we’ve seen our kids' interest and understanding of story expand in wonderful ways, both on the page, and also in their conversations and thinking outside of the class context. Lorraine is focused and kind, thoughtful and rigorous, and she knows how to break down the act of storytelling in ways that are very helpful in terms of both craft and imagination.
She’s also been a great communicator with us, the parents, regarding what the kids are up to, as well as her observations on their strengths as well as areas where they might benefit from additional attention. It was a stroke of good luck for us to find Lorraine to work with our kids — she has brought creative writing to life for them in an inspiring way that I am certain will stay with them." Ira Sachs, Kirsten Johnson
"My son struggled to get three paragraphs out, and it was making homework and, increasingly, school as a whole, unbearable. Lorraine's gentle approach to helping Marc use language as a written tool has been invaluable to his education these past couple of years. He is an almost prolific writer of stories now, and his academic success is largely owed to Lorraine's patience and inspiration."
Susan Wilson
"I've grown to think that every writing instructor should also be trained as an art therapist, after seeing our two kids, while working with Lorraine and talking (non-stop) about their time with her, both develop not only great writing skills, and a passion for good storytelling, but also a whole new sense of self-confidence as communicators, introspection, and self-awareness that wasn't there before. They loved the writing games she played with them, and still play them with each other sometimes."
John M.
"My kids can't get enough of Lorraine. We still talk about her years later and hope someday our kids will get to work with her again."
Lauren Palermo