Questions about Creative Writing Summer Camp
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Q: Do the students have to stay inside and be quiet the whole day long? A: No! We have a quiet space and a talking space. Because students have different learning styles and respond differently to different environments, we go outside, look at nature, work in quiet spaces, talk our ideas out, and even write to music. We have a quiet space and a talking space. We all have different learning styles that are activated when we go outside, look at nature, work in quiet spaces, talk our ideas out or even write to music. Q: Will you work on mechanics or essay writing at all? A: Not in this camp. We are working on creative writing. But being good at creative writing can help strengthen a student’s writing in other academic areas.reative writing has more variables and shapes a piece of writing could take. But - the good thing is the instructor was a college English composition professor for ten years before she became a professional writer. Q: Creative Writing? Sounds nice, but isn’t that like signing my kiddo up for something they will never use, like underwater basketweaving? A: Not at all! Good writing is the foundation for good thinking and communication. Both are skills needed to excel academically. We use creative thinking to help students access higher-order thinking by creating new and original material. These experiences allow them to be more adaptable and confident in addressing complex situations. Skills that schools and workplaces alike are looking for. Q: Creative Writing? Sounds nice, but isn’t that like signing my kiddo up for something they will never use, like underwater basketweaving? Not at all! On Blooms taxonomy of higher order thinking, creating something is at the top – considered the highest order thinking. Look at this pyramid that college educators use when designing curriculum and creating student learning outcomes: Q: Is focusing on academic writing more strategic than creative writing? The way we see it, good writing is good writing. Writing needs a lot of nurturing. All roads lead to Rome. There are many ways to approach learning writing. Q: My child has learning differences. Can they still participate? A: Yes! There are ways to work around ADHD, etc. We play games, draw out our ideas, and brainstorm. Sometimes the hyperfocus of ADHD is a gift to writers. We also work on getting in the “flow” state so that writing becomes fun. Q: Are the teachers vetted, and do they care about their students? A: Yes. In order to have an MOU in place with SFUSD, all of our teachers who work with kids undergo criminal background checks and fingerprinting. As this camp grows, we’re looking to bring in other teachers through the two graduate programs we partner with–-who will all be trained, vetted, background checked, and professional writers/teachers. All of our instructors are passionate about teaching creative writing to students because we also learned to write as teens, changing our lives for the better. This is a great opportunity to pay it forward. Q: Is the Harvey Milk Center Safe? A: Yes. It’s safe, clean, and will be very quiet this week because all of the other summer camps have ended. The Harvey Milk Center is a building owned by the City of SF and is part of the Recreation and Park Dept, an entity that we also partner with. This center includes inside bathrooms, basketball courts, grassy areas, a photo center, etc. There's also City staff on site to help with check-on on the first day and to supervise the building. How did this camp start? A: We started out in 2015, inside an art gallery in North Beach and a WeWork right off Market Street. But after the pandemic, we decided not to work downtown anymore. That’s when we remembered our old contact with the Harvey Milk Center. They welcomed us into their space to offer classes for adults. Then, we started offering kids' and teens programs in the summer. At first we offered a class in conjunction with YPTMTC. That was great. We still do it every June. Signups for that camp are through the rec and park system. This one is different because the teen theater company director takes a break during August and gears up for their fall season. Our camp focuses solely on writing. We will bring in other writers from the field to study their work and talk about how they write. I can’t afford the camp. We offer limited scholarships based on funding. Please get in touch to see if you qualify. We also offer payment plans, financing etc via our website (https://sfwriting.instiute). Do you work with all ages? From our summer camps and after-school enrichments to college essay workshops, we help nurture writers of all ages and skill levels. I have about 20 years of experience working with adult learners, from ESL, to college to professional level writers. I have 5 years experience working with teens. Who are SFCWI’s students? What have they achieved? We work with elementary school students, to writers seeking to publish, to even professors of writing! Right now, I’m working with a professor from UC Berkeley school of Journalism in my Advanced Prose workshop for adults (who has already published a book). I work with a senior correspondent from Fast Company who is writing a novel. I also work with a retired nurse who had never written before walking into my workshop. This year, one of my middle school students got into Stanford Online High School. Another of my community college students, after receiving help revising his college transfer essay and taking my English 1B and 1A classes, got into UC Berkeley with the Bill and Melinda Gates Scholarship. Another of my students from my Method Writing class is currently a professor at 30 at MIT. Another of my students at the SF Creative Writing Institute, Tracey Lien, published her mystery novel to a record 9-way bidding war to Harper Collins. In my opinion, all stories are valuable, and anyone can be a great writer. It just takes the desire to tell a story and the courage to get started, and discipline over time. Q: Why is writing important anymore when there’s just Chat GPT? A: Writing is thinking. And everyone needs a place where their thoughts and ideas are valued, but also a creative dojo where they can practice their craft, roll up their sleeves and get to work. Also, universities don’t want people who sound like robots. They want people who think and think critically. Q: What will you do in this camp? A: In this camp, we'll focus on helping students express themselves through poetry, fiction, and storytelling. We work on writing from the deepest part of who you are, and sharing it aloud. We make meaning out of the every day and encourage young writers to take risks. In the final week, we'll produce an optional final reading and chapbook-style zine produced by the class. Q: What is a Chapbook? A: Chapbooks started in the 19th century. They literally mean “cheap books.” They’ve become popular again in the last 20 years among writers wo are just starting out. They are a small portfolio or book usually stapled in the middle. They’re a great calling card for emerging writers and poets. Q: What else do you do in camp that might be fun? A: We make a group playlist and we listen to music when we write. We read work aloud. We work on writing from the deepest part of who you are, and we write stories. We play games that help us think of new ideas faster. We make meaning out of the every day and encourage young writers to take risks. Q: Why is writing important? Learning to write well can help you in all aspects of life. Writing is thinking. And it’s a necessary skill for college and beyond. Q: I am secretly a writer (as a parent). Will SFCWI work with me too? A: Yes we will! Look at our website. We have tons of workshops for adults both online and in person. We also offer private consultation and developmental editing services if you’re writing a book. Q: Can someone take the camp for more than one week per year? A: Yes. It is non-repetitive. You can take it for multiple weeks. If you love to write, you’ve come to the right place. Thank you for finding us! Sign up for the camp from August 11-15, 2025 here or below. Sincerely, Alexandra Kostoulas Founder & Executive Director, SF Creative Writing Institute August 11-15, 2025 M-F 12-5pm:
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