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.

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

Being able to expand my mind in a loving and supportive environment has shaped my mind in so many wonderful ways, and I'm eternally grateful for it. I've come a long way, and it's all thanks to the community at Uptown Stories.

Susannah

Student

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 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

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

Gerry

Parent

My daughter’s writing has improved tremendously. She loves writing now. She can sit for hours and let her imagination fly.

Annie

Parent

Writing used to be something that was just work; something we have to do at school. However, now it's a way for me to express different things, and it's much more enjoyable now that there is a place where everyone has the same passion for writing that I do.

Anna

Student

Ready to Join a Workshop?

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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Anime: IKŌ!

You know it, love it, you can’t get enough of it - and neither can we. Whether it’s Speed Racer or Dragon Ball, Naruto, or My Hero Academia, we are OBSESSED. The only thing better than watching anime the entire week of February break would be drawing our own anime characters and adventures. Grab your pens, and let’s ikō!

We’ll learn traditional techniques using the boldest of colors, creating unique casts of characters with the best hair, and putting them into action in the world and arc of your dreams. Whether you’re new to drawing classes or an experienced artist, there are always skills to learn that will help you tell the story you want told.

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Writing Dialogue

Writing dialogue seems like it should be a breeze but when it comes down to it, writing great dialogue is one of the hardest skills to master. It reveals character nuance and mood; it can set the tone for the entire story; and can be pivotal to your reader’s experience.

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For four weeks this winter join original rockstar teaching artist, Kate Reuther, to embark on the writer’s journey toward authentic and impactful dialogue. Together, as a group of motivated and curious writers, we’ll draw inspiration from fiction and screenplays, and fine-tune this skill that can make or break your next short story, novel, or screenplay.

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Come ready and excited to engage with some of the most influential voices of our past and present! We’ll read and watch Zadie Smith, JD Salinger, Tana French, Oscar Wilde, Quentin Tarantino, and more.
Don’t just talk about it - register now!

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