By Angelo Piersanti

Nestled in a cozy classroom of Shelton’s Upper School, a vibrant community of writers gathers every Friday morning, united by their passion for creative writing. The Creative Writing Club, open to all students in grades 9-12, offers a supportive and stimulating environment where members can hone their craft, explore new ideas and connect with like-minded peers. 

The club was founded in 2021 by Jen Jen Dayton, currently a senior and President of the Creative Writing Club. Under the guidance of faculty advisor Sophia Van Den Handel, the club provides a platform for students to share their writing, receive constructive feedback and learn from one another. 

At the beginning of the school year, students completed a survey about their writing goals and participated in various get-to-know-you activities. These included a story-pass, a collaborative activity in which students take turns adding to a narrative. As they built on each other's work, they learned about each other’s interest areas and writing styles. 

Meetings typically begin with a writing prompt designed to spark the imagination. Prompts range from free-writing challenges to structured exercises. The serious melds with the spontaneous and whimsical, as bits of conversation, current events or thematic connections provide the day’s inspiration. Students practice many genres, from Haikus and sonnets to horror stories, screenplays, and micro-fiction.

Following the writing exercise, club members participate in group discussions and exchange writing advice. These discussions not only deepen members' understanding of the writing process but also foster a sense of camaraderie and common purpose. The club's crowning achievement is the publication of a literary magazine, shaped entirely by its members. They design the cover, select writing pieces and pair them with unique artwork.

For members of the Upper School Creative Writing Club, the experience goes beyond improving their writing skills – it's about becoming part of a cohort of writers that values creativity, self-expression and mutual support. As Shelton looks forward to the release of their new magazine later this semester, here is a link to last year’s edition.