Creative Writing Club – An After School Writing Workshop

Grades 3rd – 8th
Virtual on Wednesdays from
3:30 – 5:00 pm PST

Register: $525.00

Jan 14, 21, 28
Feb 4, 11, 25
March 4, 11, 18, 25
April 15, 22, 29
(No Class February 18, April 1, and April 8)

Creative Writing Club: A Welcoming Space for Your Child to Grow and Shine as a Writer

“I just want more weeks of writing club.” – Participant, Spring 2025
“I had an amazing time during this class and I hope to do it again!” – Participant, Spring 2025
“Thank you so much! This has been a great experience!” – Participant, Spring 2025
“Thank you so much, I hope this program continues.” – Participant, Spring 2025

We offer young writers an opportunity and space to express their voice through creative writing and to enhance their academic writing.  We’ll explore a variety of writing genres, that could include short stories, personal memoir, fun informational and opinion writing, reading response, and even poetry writing. We’ll even have some fun with art journaling!

The goal of this program is, through a gained appreciation and love of writing, to encourage young writers to develop habits that will help them improve their writing practice. We differentiate instruction to meet the needs of the children. We welcome writers of all levels and abilities!

This is your chance to unwind and explore writing! We’ll start each session with an inspirational image or quote to prompt a descriptive response. Students can expect a balance of writing time individually, in a small group, along with some guidance and ideas shared among the whole group. We’ll also provide time for you to share your work and receive valuable, constructive feedback from your peers. We’ll also have a chance to showcase work on the club website. Come join us for this unique opportunity.

As part of growing as a writer, it is important to share writing not only visually, but also orally. The oral component is a critical part of developing voice and learning how to provide and accept safe, supportive, and constructive feedback.

Consider your writers ability to do and have the below items before registering: 

  • Should be able to open a google doc and share it (with editing to enable Teacher feedback and support)
  • Should have an email that is separate from school email, as school emails prevent sharing of work
  • Should have a laptop or standing computer (preferred), as tablets and phones do not work well with editing and importing of images, and more
  • Should have rudimentary experience/practice with navigating Zoom and Zoom features

Whether your writer is just beginning or already on their way, we’re excited to be part of their writing journey. We can’t wait to help them grow and turn their ideas into stories on the page.

Register Today!

Meet your instructors!

  • We invite your writer to start or continue their writing journey.
  • We look forward to helping writers get their ideas onto the page.
  • We are excited to help writers grow.

Christine Leishman is recently retired after twelve years of teaching Language Arts and Social Studies to 5th grade students in San Francisco Unified School District. She is Nationally Board Certified in Early Literacy and a proud BAWP alum. Retirement is allowing her time to pursue her passions: yoga, writing, reading, cooking, eating, hiking, traveling, spending time with her family, and, most importantly, continuing to learn.

Elizabeth Levett Fortier has taught Kindergarten at George Peabody Elementary in San Francisco’s Richmond District from 2006 until June of 2022. She received her credential in 1990 and taught K and first grade in the Mission District and the Western Addition. Elizabeth is certified by the National Board of Teaching Standards Certification in the area of Elementary Literacy Instruction. She became a teacher consultant for the Bay Area Writing Project in 2013 and has taught grades 3-9 at BAWP Young Writers’ Camps. Elizabeth continues her own writing practice, contributing to Digital Paper, BAWP’s online publication. Her work can also be found at elizabethlevett.home.blog. She is also a singer/songwriter in the SF band, Dreamchair Music and a collaboration with artists in France and Japan called, OurTown. She has published a collection of short pieces and has produced several albums of her music.

Julie Jenkins has enjoyed teaching the writing process for over 25 years. She has taught students 3rd through 7th grades in both Washington State and Los Altos School District. Julie’s life passion is reading and writing while coaching students to find their writing voice. She believes everyone has a story to share. After graduating from Cal State, Northridge, Julie pursued a career in journalism public relations. Later, Julie followed her dream to teach when she changed her career path to teaching. Julie’s Writing Project journey began with the San Jose Area Writing Project (SJAWP) where she taught summer creative writing courses. After a recent move to the North Bay, she is now continuing as a Teaching Consultant with BAWP. Additionally, Julie is a virtual reading and writing tutor. When Julie is not teaching, she treasures her time with her family, including her new family puppy, Bella. Poetry and short story writing are her favorite hobbies. She always makes time for a good book, hiking, and cooking.

Marna Blanchard is currently a semi retired teacher from San Francisco, who loves teaching, esepcially writing so much that she just can’t retire!  Though she loves to teach poetry, she also loves a narrative and argumentative writing in equal measures. 

Marna has taught for 30  plus years in San Francisco with stops in China, South Korea, Singapore and Austria to teach creative writing.

Marna grew up in San Francisco graduating from Lowell, CCSF and finally UC Berkeley. 

In her spare time Marna loves taking long walks with her dogs, Wallace and Henry, writing,  reading , traveling and photography. She currently lives in Berkeley in the Summer and Fall  and in Portland  with her daughters in the Winter and Spring. 

Cancellations

If you wish to withdraw, please submit notification to our office at bawp@berkeley.edu. An email must be submitted by the customer who initially completed the purchase. Refunds will be processed as detailed below and may be offered in the original form of payment. Please note, all check payments require the completion of the UC Berkeley vendor application. You can review the vendor application HERE.

  • Withdrawal requests received by Sunday, January 4, 2026 will be processed with a $50.00 cancellation fee.
  • Withdrawal requests received after Sunday, January 4, 2026 will be refunded 50% of the cost of the course. 
  • Withdrawals made on or after the first day of the course do not qualify for a refund.
  • Withdrawal refunds are for the cost of program only and do not include any course fees.
  • Please feel free to contact the office with questions at any point during this process – bawp@berkeley.edu