Writing Classes
We’re proud to offer writing workshops and masterclasses with authors for students in northern Michigan and beyond. Classes for K-12 students are offered free of charge. Below, view our upcoming classes with information about the dates, content, and age group.
Registration Open
The Only Rule of Making Zines: There are No Rules!
Making Zines!
Class Instructor:
Tess Tarchak-Hiss
Class Date:
Saturday, Aug. 1
Class Time:
12-3 P.M.
Class Size:
6-8 students
Age Group:
7th-12th graders.
Location:
202 E Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City, MI 49684
Registration Full
Once Upon a Boat: A sailing-and-storytelling adventure!
Sailing and storytelling for middle schoolers.
Class Instructor:
Chris Loud
Class Date:
June 27, June 30, July 2
Class Time:
10 A.M. - 12 P.M.
Class Size:
6
Age Group:
5th-8th Graders
Location:
Wind Sailing, Discovery Pier 13271 SW Bayshore Dr, and National Writers Series, 202 E. Grandview Parkway
Registration Open
Script to Screen: Building Stories That Move
Screenwriting for middle schoolers.
Class Instructor:
Chris Loud
Class Date:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
Class Time:
10:30 A.M. - 12 P.M.
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
5th-8th Graders
Location:
National Writers Series, 202 E. Grandview Parkway
Registration Full
Make It Strange: Writing the Surreal and Satirical
Surrealism and satire for 5th-8th graders.
Class Instructor:
'Cole Birkett
Class Date:
Online: Wednesdays, August 5, 12, 19, and 26
Class Time:
12:00 to 12:45 P.M.
Class Size:
6-12 students
Age Group:
4th-7th Graders
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
The Dogman of Michigan: Adventures in Folklore!
Folklore for 4th-7th graders.
Class Instructor:
'Cole Birkett
Class Date:
Online: Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21, and 28
Class Time:
12:00 to 12:45 P.M.
Class Size:
6-12 students
Age Group:
4th-7th Graders
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Outside Voices: Writing Inspired by Nature
What if your next great story started outside?
Class Instructor:
Chris Loud
Class Date:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
Class Time:
4 P.M. - 5 P.M.
Class Size:
10-12 students
Age Group:
7th-12th Graders
Location:
Aug 11th-25th at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, 2846 N Three Mile Rd, with final session at The National Writers Series classroom at 202 E. Grandview Parkway
Registration Open
The College Essay: Tell Your Story
College application essays for high school juniors and seniors.
Class Instructor:
Mandy Keskes
Class Date:
Aug. 11th
Class Time:
10 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. with one-on-one essay reviews to be scheduled during class.
Class Size:
10-12 students
Age Group:
High School; Grades 11-12
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Summer ’26: Yes, you CAN write a novel!
Novel writing for ages 16+.
Class Instructor:
Mandy Keskes
Class Date:
Tuesdays, June 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
Class Time:
7-8:30 P.M. ET
Class Size:
8-10 students
Age Group:
16+
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Revise Your Way to a Final Draft
Revision for writers 16+
Class Instructor:
Mandy Keskes
Class Date:
Sunday, Aug. 2
Class Time:
2-5 P.M.
Class Size:
10-12 students
Age Group:
16+
Location:
202 E Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City, MI 49684
Registration Open
The College Essay: Tell Your Story
College application essays for high school juniors and seniors.
Class Instructor:
Mandy Keskes
Class Date:
Online: Tuesday, May 5th
Class Time:
7-9 P.M. ET via Zoom, with one-on-one essay reviews to be scheduled during class.
Class Size:
10-12 students
Age Group:
High School; Grades 11-12
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
The National Writers Series Youth Board
The National Writers Series Youth Board
Class Instructor:
Audrey Irontree
Class Date:
Monthly meetings, others as-needed
Class Time:
TBD based on Youth Board members' schedules
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
7th-12th Graders
Location:
Registration Open
Spring Break Stay-cation: Write 50-word Stories!
Flash stories for 7th-12th graders.
Class Instructor:
Mandy Keskes
Class Date:
Online: March 30th, 31st, and April 1st (Mon-Wed)
Class Time:
11 A.M. -12:30 P.M. ET
Class Size:
10-12 students
Age Group:
Grades 7-12
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Romance Writing Valentine’s Day Party for Adults
Romance Writing for Adults
Class Instructor:
Audrey Irontree
Class Date:
Sunday, Feb. 15th
Class Time:
2:00-6:00 P.M.
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
18+
Location:
Intimi: 124 S Union St, Traverse City, MI
Registration Open
Adult Class: Yes, you CAN write a novel!
Novel writing for ages 16+.
Class Instructor:
Mandy Keskes
Class Date:
Online: Wednesdays, Feb. 25th, March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
Class Time:
7-8:30 P.M. ET
Class Size:
8-10 students
Age Group:
16+
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Here there be Dragons: Hiding Stories in Stories
Writing and world-building for 7th-12th graders.
Class Instructor:
'Cole Birkett
Class Date:
Online: Wednesdays, March 18th, 25th, April 1st, 8th
Class Time:
5:30-7:00 P.M. ET
Class Size:
6-12 students
Age Group:
7th-12th Graders
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
From Shouts to Whispers, Pages to Performance!
Poetry for 4th-6th graders.
Class Instructor:
Derek Miller
Class Date:
Tuesdays, Feb. 24, March 3, 10, 17, April 7th and 14th
Class Time:
4:30-5:30 P.M. ET
Class Size:
8-10 students
Age Group:
4th-6th Graders
Location:
PoWeR! Book Bags studio, 13606 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City.
Registration Full
Write Your Wildest Dreams!
Class Instructor:
Kelly Almer
Class Date:
Online: Wednesdays, Jan. 28, Feb 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18
Class Time:
5:00-6:15 P.M. Et
Class Size:
6-8 students
Age Group:
4th-6th Graders
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Two Sides to Every Story: Play with Point of View
Class Instructor:
Kelly Almer
Class Date:
Online: Wednesdays, Jan. 28, Feb 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18
Class Time:
6:30-8:00 P.M. ET
Class Size:
6-8 students
Age Group:
6th-8th Graders
Location:
Online via Zoom; link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
The College Essay: Tell Your Story
Class Instructor:
Miranda Keskes
Class Date:
Tuesday, December 2nd
Class Time:
7-9 p.m. via Zoom, with one-on-one essay reviews to be scheduled during class.
Class Size:
10-12
Age Group:
High School; Grades 11-12
Location:
Zoom, link to be sent the week before the class.
Registration Open
TTRPG Workshop: Gaming the Story
Roleplaying and writing for 7th-12th graders.
Class Instructor:
'Cole Birkett
Class Date:
Wednesdays, September 17th through October 29th, no class on October 8th.
Class Time:
5-6:30 P.M.
Class Size:
6-8
Age Group:
Grades 7-12
Location:
Hybrid, first and last class in person at the PoWeR! Book Bags Studio, 13606 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684, intervening classes on Zoom.
Registration Full
Once Upon a Boat: A sailing-and-storytelling adventure!
Sailing and storytelling for middle schoolers.
Class Instructor:
Chris Loud
Class Date:
Sunday, Sept. 21 sailing day, Monday, Sept. 22 and Tuesday, Sept 23.
Class Time:
Sunday 9/21 12:30-2:30 P.M. sailing, Monday 9/22 and Tuesday 9/23 4-6 P.M. writing class.
Class Size:
6
Age Group:
5th-8th Graders
Location:
Wind Sailing, Discovery Pier 13271 SW Bayshore Dr, and PoWeR! Book Bags studio, 13606 SW Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City.
Registration Full
Screenwriting Act Two: Your Story Gets Real
Screenwriting for middle schoolers.
Class Instructor:
Chris Loud
Class Date:
Thursdays, October 2nd, 9th, 23rd, and 30th, November 6th and 13th..
Class Time:
4- 5:30 P.M.
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
5th-8th Graders
Location:
PoWeR! Book Bags studio, 13606 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City.
Registration Open
Horror Writing for Adults with Tank Space
Horror workshop for adults.
Class Instructor:
Audrey Irontree
Class Date:
Saturday, October 11th
Class Time:
2:00-6:00PM with reading and party to follow
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
18+
Location:
Tank Space, 1110 E Eighth St, Traverse City, MI 49686
Registration Open
It Takes a Village! Let’s Tell a Story Together
Class Instructor:
Kelly Almer
Class Date:
Online: Mondays, September 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6, 13, 27, November 3
Class Time:
5:00-6:30pm ET
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
3rd-5th Graders
Location:
ONLINE: Zoom link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Full
It’s Elementary, My Dear Watson! Mystery Writing
Class Instructor:
Kelly Almer
Class Date:
Online: Mondays, September 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6, 13, 27, November 3
Class Time:
7:00-8:30 pm Eastern time
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
5th-8th Graders
Location:
ONLINE: Zoom link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Super-Short Spooky Stories: Scare Your Readers in Under 300 Words!
Class Instructor:
Miranda Keskes
Class Date:
Tuesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28
Class Time:
7-8 pm, online via zoom
Class Size:
10-12
Age Group:
Grades 7-12
Location:
Zoom, link to be sent the week before the class.
Registration Open
The College Essay: Tell Your Story
Class Instructor:
Miranda Keskes
Class Date:
Tuesday, September 23rd
Class Time:
7-9 p.m. via Zoom, with one-on-one essay reviews to be scheduled during class.
Class Size:
10-12
Age Group:
High School; Grades 11-12
Location:
Zoom, link to be sent the week before the class.
Registration Open
A Writers Series First: Fiction Workshop for Adults
Fiction workshop for adults.
Class Instructor:
Audrey Irontree
Class Date:
Mondays, June 23rd- July 28th, final reading TBA
Class Time:
6:00-7:30
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
18+
Location:
PoWeR! Book Bags studio, 13606 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City.
Registration Full
The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of: Screenwriting to Unlock Your Story
Screenwriting for middle schoolers.
Class Instructor:
Chris Loud
Class Date:
Thursdays, July 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, August 7th and 14th
Class Time:
5:30-6:30pm
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
5th-8th Graders
Location:
PoWeR! Book Bags studio, 13606 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City.
Registration Open
A Whale of a Tale: Writing a Tall Tale
Class Instructor:
Kelly Almer
Class Date:
Online: Mondays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, and August 4
Class Time:
1:00 - 2:15 pm
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
3rd-5th Graders
Location:
ONLINE: Zoom link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Gumshoe, Sleuth, Private Eye: Create a Mystery Detective
Class Instructor:
Kelly Almer
Class Date:
Online: Mondays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, and August 4
Class Time:
11:00am - 12:15pm
Class Size:
8-10
Age Group:
5th-8th Graders
Location:
ONLINE: Zoom link to be provided the week before the class.
Registration Open
Spring Break Stay-cation: Write 50-word Stories!
Class Instructor:
Miranda Keskes
Class Date:
Three-day intensive, March 24-26
Class Time:
3-4:30 p.m. via Zoom
Class Size:
10-12
Age Group:
Grades 7-12
Location:
Zoom, link to be sent the week before the class.
Registration Full
The College Essay: Tell Your Story
Class Instructor:
Miranda Keskes
Class Date:
Tuesday, August 12th
Class Time:
7-9 p.m. via Zoom, with one-on-one essay reviews to be scheduled during class.
Class Size:
10-12
Age Group:
High School; Grades 11-12
Location:
Zoom, link to be sent the week before the class.