Creative Writing

Welcome, Creative Writing students, club members, and parents! Creative Writing is a 4-year English program for students who enjoy writing creatively--whether it be poetry, plays, screenplays, or stories. These classes do not replace the basic, honors, or AP English course requirements; they are elective classes. It's not just a class; it's a family.

Creative Writing students have freedom to explore their individual interests and complete original stories, poems, and plays. Every student leaves as a published author, which looks great on college applications and is something to be proud of for life. Students also have the opportunity to apply to join the prestigious editing team responsible for the annual publication of our class anthology. Throughout the year, students have traditionally participated in competitions such as the National Poetry Out Loud contest, California Directing Change film contest, and the California Student Media Festival.

Explore your imagination. Create a writing portfolio. Join Creative Writing. No prior experience is required.

Year 1: Creative Writing 1

Year 2: Creative Writing 2

Year 3: Advanced Creative Writing & Performance

Year 4: completion of Year 3 AND teacher recommendation

Year 1: Creative Writing 1

Year 1: Creative Writing 1
Open to students in grades 9-12, Creative Writing 1 is an A-G elective class (G category) that introduces students to the basics of creative writing, including the study of diction, syntax, pacing, dialogue, narrative, poetry, plays, and screenplays. Notes and lessons provided in this class prepare students with the necessary foundation for the Creative Writing 2 course.

Year 2: Creative Writing 2

Year 2: Creative Writing 2
PREREQUISITE : Successful completion of Creative Writing 1 with a C or higher

Creative Writing 2 is an A-G elective class (G category). In this workshop-style elective writing course, students further develop skills learned in Creative Writing 1 and deepen understanding of the relationship between plot and character. Some topics covered include how to incorporate subplots, how and when to incorporate character arcs, and how to deepen the emotional impact of their writing. Students will continue to work through the writing process with their own poetry, plays and stories. They will develop a broadening portfolio of writing, will engage in critique sessions with other writers, and will submit original works for publication. Creative Writing 2 prepares students for Advanced Creative Writing and Performance.

Year 3: Advanced Creative Writing & Performance

Year 3: Advanced Creative Writing & Performance
PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of Creative Writing 1 and Creative Writing 2 with a C or higher

Advanced Creative Writing and Performance is an A-G elective class (F “Fine Arts” category); therefore, students will perform work out loud during the revision process to get feedback from peers and the teacher in preparation for a public performance or competition.

The purpose of this course is to improve and develop students’ writing and public speaking skills through writing, reading, analysis, evaluation, and performance in various genres such as poems, short stories, memoir, and creative non-fiction, emulating the structures and styles of various authors and their works.

Students will develop a portfolio of finished pieces each semester through drafting and revision. They will also reflect on their growth and improvement as writers and speakers, and gain an understanding of the significance of writing to people’s lives. Additionally, the school’s anthology is designed, edited, and published in this course whereby students are responsible for selecting, critiquing, editing, and revising submissions for the finished product. Students will also create an author website to showcase their best work.

Become a Published Author!

Publication

All students who successfully complete any of the creative writing courses will leave the class as published authors. An important part of our class is the annual publication of our class anthology. Our books can be purchased on Amazon. Look for some of the books written by "Students of La Quinta High School":

Fiction Around the Fire (2024)

Tales Spun by the Setting Sun (2023)

Inflorescence (2022)

Abandoned Archives (2021)

Letters From the Sea (2020)

Spacing Out (2019)

Out of Ink (2018)

Train of Thoughts (2017)

Pages of the Mind (2016)

When You Give a Creative Writing Class a Deadline (2016).

All proceeds go directly back into supporting the creative writing program at La Quinta High School.

Contests and Competitions

Creative writing students have the opportunity to enter competitions at the local, state, and national levels.

Many of our student teams have won or placed locally in their categories for contests including: the National Poetry Out Loud competition, State and National Directing Change video contests related to mental health, and the California Student Media Festival.

One of our winning student videos was chosen by Angels Baseball for their public service announcement about mental health and played on television during every home game during that season!

Click on the Creative Writing Contests link in the side bar for more info.

Creative Writing Club

All students in the Creative Writing classes are automatic members of our Creative Writing Club! It's not just a class; it's a family. We design and sell t-shirts, bookmarks, and our annual anthologies.

Class members may apply for a leadership position in the club. Board positions available include the following: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Chair, and Organizational Coordinator. Many of our board members come in with no prior leadership experience.

Please Note: to be a club officer, you must be currently enrolled in a Creative Writing class.

Can't take the class, but are interested in joining the Creative Writing Club? If so, visit:

https://www.laquintahs.org/apps/pages/creativewriting Applications open up in the fall semester.