We empower young people to write their own stories. 

An exciting, challenging, and supportive community where young authors thrive

Based in Washington Heights, Uptown Stories offers after-school, weekend, and summer creative writing workshops for children ages 8-18, led by rockstar teachers, who are also professional authors and artists.

Students learn the art and craft of writing, how to revise their work, and how to give and receive constructive feedback. Each workshop ends with a celebratory reading at the Word Up Bookshop in Washington Heights, and the publication of a paperback anthology, so every student leaves our program as a published author.

To ensure our program is accessible to our ethnically and economically diverse community, our tuition is “Pay-What-You-Can.” Uptown Stories creates an exciting, challenging, and supportive community where young authors thrive.

Why Creative Writing?

We believe that writing is an essential tool for:

Developing
Communication Skills

Creative writing helps young people develop their communication skills.
By learning to express their thoughts and ideas in writing, they become better able to articulate their ideas verbally, which is beneficial in all areas of life.

Stimulating Imagination

Creative writing encourages young people to use their imaginations and think creatively. This helps them become more innovative and adaptable in their thinking, which is useful in many different contexts, from problem-solving  to artistic expression.

Enhancing
Self-Expression

Creative writing provides young people with a medium for self-expression. This can be especially important for those who struggle with expressing themselves verbally or who may feel misunderstood or marginalized in other areas of their lives.

Building Confidence

As young people develop their creative writing skills and see their work improve, they gain confidence in their abilities. This translates to other areas of their lives, such as academics or social situations, where confidence and self-assuredness can be valuable assets.

Promoting
Critical Thinking

Writing creatively requires young people to think critically and analyze their own work. This helps them develop their critical thinking skills, which is needed in a wide range of academic and professional pursuits.

Uptown Stories has helped me come out of my shell and explore my imagination. My writing has become more complex and descriptive over the years. It is helpful and fun to anyone who is interested in writing or not!

Kayla

Student

Uptown Stories has helped my writing in the sense that it allowed me to realize that this is my passion and that I want to pursue it as a career. It opened my eyes to the possibilities that creative writing has to offer. I think that anyone can get something out of attending Uptown Stories.

Graydon

Alumnus

I really appreciate the fact that every every student has a voice in their class. They trust each other and they listen to each other. All of this is happening because Uptown Stories has created a community of learners where everyone learns from each other.

Nina

Parent

When it's Monday, I'm so excited for class to start! Favorite time of the week! Uptown Stories made me like writing even more.

Tallulah

Student

I love the teachers, love the community, have made SO many new friends. I feel like I can express myself through writing, and I couldn’t do that before. Everyone should be a part of Uptown Stories!

Isabella

Student

I've met a fantastic group of people and become a much better writer. Kate and the rest of the staff are hardworking and fun to work with.

Joseph

Student

Thanks to [Uptown Stories], a passing interest has become a passion.

Gerry

Parent

Uptown Stories redefined "after school enrichment" for me. The kids were learning the fundamentals of good writing, but in a way that felt like a fun romp, rather than a two-hour slog through rules and thesis statements.

HK

Parent

Ready to Join a Workshop?

From Flash to Fiction

Sometimes images speak louder than words, but what kind of impact can you create if you put them together? In From Flash to Fiction, we explored the writing of, from, and alongside the images that spoke to us. Together, we wondered about how to bring images to life with our words and sharpened our imaginations by playing in the crosshairs of writing and photography. Using photos we took ourselves or ones we found through research, we found inspiration for short stories. 

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Animal Tales

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have paws? To leap like a frog or soar like a falcon? Through poetry and short fiction, come dive into the world of animals.We’re going to write from the perspective of your favorite animals and imagine answers to captivating questions: What does my cat dream about? What do two dogs chat about? How does Moo Deng feel about becoming famous? We’ll also learn about some quirky, interesting, and even inspiring real-life animal stories, from a friendly cat who became a town’s mayor, to the squirrel leaving behind thank-you treats for humans. Join us this winter and let’s bring the animal kingdom to life with your words

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Our Uptown

Calling all kid-journalists and fiction writers! With a home base at the Cornerstone and an adventure-scape of the entire neighborhood, Our Uptown will be the perfect avenue for diving into our community. In this workshop, we will hone our journalistic skills by interviewing the people who run, work at, and visit our favorite neighborhood spots. Every place has a story, especially in Washington Heights, and we’re eager to learn it! Once our research is complete we’ll write poetry, fiction, and more, inspired by these vibrant visits and interviews. From Buunni Coffee to Oasis Deli, meet people who connect you to our community, feed our souls, and inspire you to write your best work.

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