by Madeline Schuster

Writers rock! That’s what I thought when I was eight years old and, with my friends, started a writing club called Writers Rock. Our club meetings consisted of reading our own writing aloud, giving written feedback to other members about their writing (usually no more in-depth than “Nice job!” or “Cool story!”), eating, and giggling.

The club slowly dissolved as the members got older, but my passion for writing didn’t. As I’ve grown up (I’m 14 years old), I have had many wonderful writing and English teachers who have encouraged my passion for the written word.

Writing for school is fun, but there are always limiting factors—what you’re supposed to write about, how long it’s supposed to be, and what style it’s supposed to be written in. What I love most is being able to write what I want, not to have any boundaries set by my teachers. That’s one of the reasons I love Loft summer classes.

When you take a writing class, the topics you can write about and how you can write about them suddenly become so much more of your choice, with the instructor giving ideas, advice, and tips, but leaving most of the other decisions to you.

You can choose different writing classes based on your varied interests. There are so many class options for all kinds of interests: fiction or nonfiction, humorous writing, playwriting and screenwriting, character development, journalism, and more!

Summer classes are particularly fun. During the summer it’s easier to get excited about a writing class because you have more time to focus on it and enjoy it than during the school year. There also aren’t as many time constraints for me in the summer, so I don’t feel too busy adding a writing class into my schedule.

Taking classes and summer camps has provided me with skills to make my writing better; and in the process, has made me appreciate the art of writing even more. Summer is about relaxing, but it can be about learning fun new things, too. Summer is a time to do what you enjoy doing. For me, writing classes are the perfect idea.

Madeline Schuster is 14 years old and lives in Saint Paul with her parents and brother. She likes to bake and hang out with her crazy friends, and absolutely adores Broadway musicals. She is, of course, an avid reader and writer, and a big fan of the Loft.