Writing Resources for Educators and Students
Acclaimed by educators
Write What You Don’t Know has been acclaimed by educators as one of the best creative writing tools available, and has even been recommended at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. But it’s not just for graduate-level students; it’s appropriate for high school and community college too.
Write What You Don’t Know is unique among how-to-write books in that it’s both inspirational and practical. Using the imaginative Storm method, it gives students a grounding in all the major aspects of storytelling in prose or poetry, fiction or nonfiction.
The Imaginative Storm method gives students a way to write with confidence and ease. It encourages an open mind-set, fosters originality and insight, and enables students to express themselves with passion and authenticity. It is a powerful way of developing imaginative and emotional intelligence.
Writing transcends subject matter
Whether you’re studying history, science, divinity, or any other topic, writing is a means of developing and articulating your ideas. When you write using the Imaginative Storm method, you’re not just demonstrating what you know. You’re investigating what you don’t know and what you might want to know. You generate the questions you want to ask.
Whatever topic you’re teaching, you’ll find ideas for essay topics and writing prompts in Write What You Don’t Know. It’s a powerful tool for cross-curricular learning.
College and Community College
Write What You Don’t Know is a ready-made plug-and-play creative writing course. The book includes full instructions on how to teach the Imaginative Storm method, as well as a 10-session curriculum plus a final session, which may, if you like, include the presentation of a final project.
The entire course can be done in one intensive week, or expanded to a semester of once-weekly or twice-weekly classes. An Instructor’s Guide is currently in development and will be available by spring 2025.. A complimentary audio course is included with the curriculum.
Write What You Don’t Know is nonpolitical and nonreligious. Its guiding principle is the development of students’ imaginative and emotional intelligence.
No formal creative writing training or degree is necessary to teach this course. We offer teacher / facilitator training at no charge, live on Zoom. Click here for more info.
We are currently offering financial support to colleges interested in offering a Write What You Don’t Know creative writing course. Contact us for more info.
High School Curriculum
We offer two curricula: “Write What You Don’t Know” and the less rigorous “Creative Writing the Imaginative Storm Way.”
Both are nonpolitical and nonreligious. Our guiding principle is the development of students’ imaginative and emotional intelligence.
Teacher / facilitator training is available at no charge, live on Zoom. Click here for more info.
A full Imaginative Storm Schools website is currently in development. It will include a short instructional video on how to get the best results using the Imaginative Storm creative writing method, along with further resources for teachers and schools.
“Write What You Don’t Know”
Write What You Don’t Know is a “writer training” course intended for older students who wish to pursue writing seriously. It is most suitable for students in 11th and 12th grade.
The course includes 10 sessions, with homework. We suggest adding a final session for review and final project. If this is too long for your time frame, sessions can be omitted.
An Instructor’s Guide to “Write What You Don’t Know” will be available by spring 2025. A complimentary audio course is included.
The “Write What You Don’t Know” curriculum is aligned with New Mexico state ELA standards. If you need our curriculum aligned with the standards of another state , just let us know and we will accommodate your request.
If you would like to participate in a pilot program and receive a teacher stipend from Imaginative Storm, we’d be delighted to discuss your requirements with you. Please contact us.
“Creative Writing the Imaginative Storm Way”
This model, easy to facilitate and easy to enjoy, is more appropriate for students in 8th to 10th grade, and can be profitably used with older students as well.
This model is also the most appropriate for an after-school activity or a creative writing club.
Material for 12 sessions is included. Each session is stand-alone, so you can use however many suits your schedule. Each session contains two prompts: one visual and one verbal. A session that includes both should last approximately 2 hours.
The “Creative Writing the Imaginative Storm Way” curriculum can be aligned with the ELA standards of your state, if desired. Please contact us.
It is not necessary to have a college degree to facilitate an Imaginative Storm after-school program. We offer complimentary training on a regular basis. Click here to sign up for a training or ask any questions.
Homeschooling
Homeschoolers interested in the “Write What You Don’t Know” curriculum can take advantage of a ready-made, plug-and-play creative writing course in either online video or downloadable audio form. A full explanation of the Imaginative Storm method is available in both.
As an additional resource, our Instructor’s Guide for teachers, which includes lesson objectives and suggestions for discussion and further reading, will be available in spring 2025. Contact us for more details.
“Write What You Don’t Know” can be done with a group of students or a solo student. The group will read aloud, so that students hear one another’s work. The solo student can listen to the Prompt Archive in order to participate in a group experience. (Please note that the Prompt Archive currently available on this website is derived from adult independent writers. It includes adult themes and occasional direct language. A Schools Prompt Archive is currently in development.)
For a group of students interested in creative writing, “Creative Writing the Imaginative Storm Way” is an inspiring introduction. Join our Facilitator’s Member Area for resources, including our Facilitator Guide.
Professional development
Our online self-paced course Write What You Don’t Know is an excellent way to re-energize yourself, re-ignite your enthusiasm for personal and intellectual discovery, and expand your horizons.
If you teach language arts, creative writing, psychology, or history, you’ll find ideas for essay topics and writing prompts—and news ways to engage your students in their own quest for knowledge.
A Certificate of Completion will be granted. We are currently pursuing academic accreditation.