Homeschool Writing Club
Writing Club is for the beginner and the
experienced writers. Come share your stories and
learn how to give great feedback. Participate in
the writing process of your friends and get those
stories written!
Check OACHE Calendar for dates and times.
To Do: (Choose 1 or both)
1. Bring 1 chapter of the current project you
are working on to read aloud to the group.
2. Do the writing prompt (especially if you
don’t have a current story you are writing.)
How To Critique
We will practice giving good feedback to anyone who reads part of their work to us. This takes
quite a bit of intentional compassion.
1. Be thoughtful and helpful. If you can’t do those two things, politely decline to critique.
2. Don’t use the word “You.” We are critiquing the writing, not the writer.
The Compliment Sandwich
3. Give Good News FIRST: Start by emphasizing the good. Point out what works, what
you liked. Find strengths and things you found interesting and creative. (The Compliment
Sandwich)
4. Give Bad News: Share the weaknesses you see without being rude. Use positive
language when sharing negative feedback.
5. Help Clean Up the Mess: When giving negative feedback, offer solid suggestions for
improvement. (Don’t be vague.)
 DON’T SAY: It’s boring. I don’t like it. You’re using the wrong words. You
wrote that badly. (etc)
 SAY: This word isn’t working well. A stronger word would be… A better word
choice would be… This could be more realistic/compelling/exciting if…
6. END with a Compliment. Encourage them one last kind word about the writing.
*Don’t forget the Compliment Sandwich!*
OPTIONAL Writing Prompts:
Character Development Challenge: Give one of your characters (main or secondary) an
interesting quirk. It can be obvious or secretive, it can be weird or stupid, but make it interesting!
Then write a scene showing their quirkiness!
Up-A-Tree Writing Prompt: A good story is all about conflict. Get your characters in all kinds
of trouble, throw sticks at the, and drive them up a tree with internal and external conflict. Add
an extra layer to your plot (and to your character) by giving them some sort of internal conflict.
Something within them that stands in the way of their dreams. Write a scene showing what they
want and something inside them that is stopping them from getting it.
Impressive Descriptions Writing Prompt: Spice up your writing with detail! Give your readers
descriptions they’ll never forget by adding concrete an sensory details. Use the five senses (feel,
smell, taste, hear, see) to describe one of the following (or make up your own): a thunderstorm, a
concert, an abandoned house, a birthday cake, riding a bike, etc.
Other Fun Writerly Things in the Works:
1. The Write Place Festival (at Averitt Center, November 2015)
As a group, we will attend the Write Place Festival in November (date is not announced
yet.) It includes author readings, writer workshops, coffee house readings for aspiring
authors, and more! An area rich in Southern mystique with a university that’s home to the
only writing degree in the state of Georgia. All events are free and open to the public.
2. The Savannah Book Festival (Downtown Historic Savannah, February 11-14, 2016)
The Savannah Book Festival is a fun, informative and entertaining three-day event in
February that celebrates books and the written word. We bring authors from around the
country to Savannah, who present their work to audiences of booklovers eager to hear
what they have to say. www.savannahbookfestival.com