Young Writers Program - Class Proposals - Fall Youth 2025

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This form is for a Youth Class for Fall 2025 and/or Winter Youth 2026. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis while this project is live. Want to get immediate feedback on your class proposal? Email edu@loft.org if you have any question about the proposal process.

On our website, we have resources and FAQs to assist you in submitting proposals. Before contacting Program Manager Marianne Manzler <mmanzler@loft.org> with questions, please review the following:

The Loft is dedicated to offering classes that are imaginative, multicultural, and responsive. We seek reading lists, class content, and approaches to discussions on craft that are inclusive and diverse, as well as timely, contemporary and accessible (readily available online, not out of print). 

You must include a strong, considered statement on how your class plan and teaching strategies will align with the Loft’s goal to be equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist in its classrooms and with its programming. If you need time to understand what the Loft means by this, or are simply curious for more information, here are some suggested resources—especially if you need help leading and navigating classroom discussions of student work as they relate to these topics:

  • How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi 
  • A Good Time for the Truth, edited by Sun Yung Shin 
  • Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses 
  • Anti-Racism Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom by Felicia Rose Chavez
  • Appropriate: A Provocation by Paisley Rekdal 


 

Online Learning Resources:

For an idea of how the Loft continues to build knowledge and capacity on this, please visit Team Dynamics.com and IDIInventory.com National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) ASDICircle.orgThese are just a few of the many resources available on creating an inclusive learning environment in your classroom; if you are unsure of how to do this, or don't understand how to articulate how your lesson plan and teaching strategies will create this kind of environment in your classroom, feel free to connect with the Loft's Program Manager before you propose your class - Marianne Manzler <mmanzler@loft.org>.

In order to teach online, Loft teaching artists must have a reliable and high speed internet connection and a computer, as well as basic knowledge of computer use, Zoom and Google Classroom, or WetInk. The Loft can not provide you with a computer or internet access.


 

What We're Looking For:

Reading lists and class content that are inclusive and diverse. Please ensure one perspective is not centered on a monolithic approach to experience and expression. 

Classes across genre. We will note though that as of late, classes in fiction and screenwriting fill quickest. According to our surveys of youth students, horror, fantasy, and sci-fi are our most requested subgenres. 

Strong and flexible lesson plans. Loft classes give young writers opportunities to engage with their teaching artist and one another, while also providing instruction on craft, engaging discussion, and in-class writing activities, as well as writing prompts students can work on between class meetings.  

Special Needs for Fall Youth 2025 and Winter Youth 2026:

Themed youth classes around holidays - Fall/nature writing, halloween/writing scary stories, winter/snowflakes, etc.

Writing Groups/Creative Writing Workshop classes across age ranges - These classes are meant to build community, provide opportunities to meet and connect other writers, get feedback, get prompts, and share ideas. These are generic, multi-genre, and more “informal” classes with a main goal of connecting young writers with each other.

Saturday, single session programming in-person - This Fall we will be scheduling single session three hour classes on Saturdays. These classes will take place in-person at Open Book

"Use Your Words" - tentatively the theme for fall youth program! Any classes around storytelling and empowerment, tell your story, topic-based courses on story structure, characterization, etc.

Online academic support session and self-care for young writers (fall and winter options) - This hour-long, drop-in online support session is free for students and a place where students ages 7 and older can work with a trained teaching artist on homework, reading, and literacy skills, with a focus on creative writing. 

Fall Youth Timeline

  • April 1, 2025 - May 1, 2025: Proposal Period
  • May - June 2025: Craft team reviews proposals and schedules classes with teaching artists
  • Orientation in September
  • Fall Young Writers registration opens: Week of June 15
  • Fall Young Writers' Weekend Intensive - (Thursday and Saturday of MEA break): October 16-17, 2025
  • Fall Young Writers' Saturday Studios: October 4, 11, 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15; Nov 6, 13 from 9am-12PM or 1-4 PM; lunchcare add-on for any TAs interested in covering lunch
  • Drop-In Academic Support Session: Wednesdays (October - November) after school, 4:00-5:00 PM
  • December 4, 2025 in OBPH at 6-7:30 PM Young Writers Anthology Release Party
     

Winter Youth Timeline

  • September 1 - October 1, 2025: TA Proposal Period
  • October 2025: Craft team proposal reviews proposals and schedules classes with teaching artists
  • October 30, 2025: Winter Young Writers' Saturday Studio registration opens
  • Feb 14, 2026 and April 18, 2026 Winter Youth Saturday Studio in person at Open Book (9:30am-3:30pm) and academic support sessions
     

Compensation 

You’ll be paid $7.00 per student per contact hour based on enrollment for your second class meeting (students may drop the class during the first week). For example, if you are teaching a 6-week class (meeting 2 hours per week for 6 weeks) with an enrollment of 14 students, your compensation will be $1,176. Youth classes are also paid on a flat-fee basis of $50/hr. Minimum enrollment is 4 students, maximum enrollment is 17 students (you are paid for a minimum of 7 students for enrollment-based classes). If this is a flat fee class, you are paid $50/hr.
 

Please contact Program Manager Marianne Manzler <mmanzler@loft.org> with any questions.

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