Sr High Creative Writing Camp

From: $110.00 / month for 3 months

Grades:  10th–12th Advanced 9th graders may also be accepted.

Live Class:  Thu 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET

Dates (Sum. 1):  May 13–Jun 28, 2024

Prepaid:  $299

Instructor:  Lili Serbicki

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Enrollment in this class is currently closed.

Course Description

See Reviews of Instructor Lili Serbicki

This Creative Writing course explores several elements and genres, including Dialogue, Character, Conflict, Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Poetry. A typical week will involve reading a short story or poetry selection, discussing the complex literary and creative elements of the piece, and responding with an original creative project that practices those specific elements.

We use new and vibrant prompts each week. By the end of the class, students will have worked toward building a vibrant and varied writing portfolio. The completed pieces will fit into categories in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Each week of the intensive will involve an optional 50-minute live discussion that will be recorded for later use. In addition to my own critiques, students will have the opportunity to receive feedback from their peers.

Course Structure

Required work is posted on Monday morning. Weekly assignments are due Friday night (short extensions may be granted if necessary). Each week student work will include:

  • Writing a draft of a short story or poem or a portion of a longer piece. Students will have the flexibility of choosing whether or not to work through multiple drafts of each project.
  • Reading a very short story or 1-2 short poems.
  • Either attending a live lecture (optional) or listening to the lecture recording.
  • Exploring concept handouts and resources based on the weekly writing element or genre.
  • Discussing our class readings in our online forum and/or our live meetings.
  • Students may spend 6-8 hours per week on classwork.

Example of Assignment

Who should enroll?

This class is designed for rising 10th-12th graders. However, a motivated rising 9th grader would be accepted.

Technology Requirements:

  • High speed, broadband Internet
  • Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
  • Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures

Evaluation and Feedback

I provide detailed critiques on short story and poem drafts. These critiques are based heavily on the element we’re studying at the time, but I will take elements such as structure/plot, clarity, characterization, conflict, imagery, etc. into account. Critiques are generally given within 2-3 days of the assignment due date. I provide a grade for each class assignment, although students may choose to submit an additional draft if they wish to improve that grade.

Communication

An application is not necessary to join this course; you may register at your convenience. I will contact parents within 1-2 days of their registration being processed. Weekly check-in emails will be sent to both parents and students.

Required Texts

 

I will provide online links to each required short story and poem. No additional purchases are necessary.

  • Character and Narrative Perspective: “Big Mother” by Anya Ow
  • Conflict and Plot Structure: “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
  • Dialogue and Irony: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
  • Science Fiction and Symbolism: “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut
  • Poetry: Jane Kenyon, Naomi Shihab Nye, Shakespeare, and William Butler Yeats
  • Independent Portfolio Building: Revisions of previous work.

 

 

 

3 reviews for Sr High Creative Writing Camp

  1. Carmen P.

    “I feel that Mrs. Serbicki’s instruction helped me get past my fear of writing fiction – under her guidance I actually finished stories – and fine-tuned my narration and plot development, steering me away from melodrama into honest, engaging tales.” (Carmen P., year-long Creative Writing)

  2. K.M.

    As a student in Mrs. Serbicki’s 2011-2012 AP English Literature class, I truly have only good things to say!  Mrs. S was prompt, considerate, and organized, and went over and above duty on many occasions to spark our interest, keep us on track, and help us grow as writers. – K.M. (student review of AP English Literature)

  3. Ginny S.

    “I won a scholarship recently with an essay/speech that I submitted for the VFW´s Voice of Democracy contest. I actually used a lot of creative writing elements in mine, and I really feel like I owe it to your course for sharpening those aspects of my writing and really my writing as a whole. So I did just want to let you know and thank you for the great feedback on my work so far…The scholarship was worth $20,000 to Springhill College.” (Ginny S., year-long Creative Writing 2012-2013)

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Instructor Bio

Lili Serbicki

Lili Serbicki is an experienced Advanced Placement English instructor with a professional background in writing, media, editing, and advertising. She is a 2009 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a BA in Communication Arts and a Minor in Philosophy. She has over ten years of experience teaching high-level online courses, including AP Literature, AP Language, Creative Writing, poetry composition, argument and debate, and advanced test preparation classes. She has many years of experience providing student tutoring in areas of writing and mechanics as well as experience in small print publication, editing, and writing workshop leadership; she is a published author of poetry, fiction, nonfiction essay, and creative memoir across multiple literary journals. Over the past decade her students (including all course and tutoring students) have won many Silver Keys and Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards at both the regional and national levels. In 2018 Mrs. Serbicki received recognition from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards as “an educator whose dedication, commitment, and guidance are represented by student work selected for national honors.” Contact: lserbicki[at]aimacademy.online

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