Easthampton, MA
Somehow School programs help kids and teens gain agency, confidence, and critical thinking skills through creative writing.
In our workshops, we help each student set and achieve their own creative goals, whether they want to write a short story from the point of view of a dog or a poem about time travel.
Our approach helps students stop worrying about writing “correctly” and instead start to see language more like clay--a material they can build with.
In our workshops, we help each student set and achieve their own creative goals, whether they want to write a short story from the point of view of a dog or a poem about time travel.
Our approach helps students stop worrying about writing “correctly” and instead start to see language more like clay--a material they can build with.
After-school workshops
Fall-Winter 2026
Fall-Winter 2026
Open for enrollment!
Studio II: Ages 10–13
September 17–December 3
Thursdays 4:00–5:30 pm
Studio III: Ages 13–18
September 16–December 9
Wednesdays 5:00–6:30pm
In this 10-week program, students ages 7–13 will write and publish four issues of The Strawberry, Somehow School’s official print newspaper. No journalism experience required!
Ages 7–13
Tuesdays 4:30–6:00 pm
September 15–December 8
Tuesdays 4:30–6:00 pm
September 15–December 8
In this 10-week program, students ages 13–18 will write, design, print, and publish two issues of The Snail, Somehow School’s official print magazine. Any genre is fair game, from poetry to fiction to comics to personality quizzes to investigative journalism.
Ages 13–18
Mondays 4:30–6:00 pm
September 21–December 7
Mondays 4:30–6:00 pm
September 21–December 7
In this 10-week workshop, students can focus on writing projects of their choice. For anyone looking for inspiration, we’ve got plenty of writing prompts. For those who already know what they want to write, we’ve got time, space, and writing implements galore.
Everyone will get individualized instructor feedback.
Studio I: Ages 7–10
September 16–December 9
Wednesdays 3:30–4:45pm
September 16–December 9
Wednesdays 3:30–4:45pm
September 17–December 3
Thursdays 4:00–5:30 pm
September 16–December 9
Wednesdays 5:00–6:30pm
Summer 2026:
Week-long programs
In this program, students ages 7–13 will write and publish an issue of The Strawberry, Somehow School’s official print newspaper. No journalism experience required.
July 6–10
10:30 am–noon
Ages 7–13
July 27–31
10:30 am–noon
Ages 7–13
10:30 am–noon
Ages 7–13
August 10–14
1:30–3:00pm
Ages 7–13
In this workshop, we’ll be making zines and printing copies of them on a risograph (a giant stencil duplicator from 2008). Students can work with a variety of materials including typewriters, old newspapers, maps, old photographs, and stamps. Everyone will leave with copies of their zines to give to family and friends!
July 27–31
10:30 am–noon
Ages 10–14
August 3–7
1:30–3:00 pm
Ages 7–13
1:30–3:00 pm
Ages 7–13
Join us to make comics of all kinds! Each student will have the chance to produce ten copies of at least one of their comics on a risograph printer.
July 6–10
1:30–3:00 pm
Ages 13–18
July 20–24
10:30 am–noon
Ages 7–13
This is a workshop dedicated to writing pretty much anything. For students looking for inspiration, we’ve got lots of writing prompts. For students who already know what they want to write, we’ve got time, space, and writing implements galore. Each class will include group discussion and independent writing time.
July 20–24
1:00–2:30 pm
Ages 13–17
July 13–17
1 –2:30 pm
Ages 7–13
In this workshop, we’ll explore the fundamentals of writing screenplays. Through introduction to a three-act structure, standard formatting, character motivation, and filmic vocabulary, this workshop will encourage writers to begin writing their own films. Taught by visiting instructor Gabrielle Rodriguez Gonzalez!
July 13–17
9:00–10:30 am
Ages 13–18
9:00–10:30 am
Ages 13–18
Summer 2026: Weekly programs
In this four-session workshop, we’ll do a combo of writing prompts, writing and drawing games, and independent writing time. Students can write in any genre. Everyone will get individualized instructor feedback.
July 8–July 29
Wednesdays 4:00–5:30 pm
Ages 7–13
Wednesdays 4:00–5:30 pm
Ages 7–13
In this six-week workshop, we’ll try to figure out what stories are and how they work. We will explore the many forms a story can take: flash fiction, comics, songs, and lots more, and try our hands at them. Students will also get plenty of independent writing time to work on long-term (or short-term) projects. Everyone will have the chance to receive instructor and peer feedback.
July 9–August 13
Thursdays 4:30–6:00 pm
Ages 10–14
Thursdays 4:30–6:00 pm
Ages 10–14
Summer 2026: Three-day programs
In this three-day workshop, we’ll create inventive one-of-a-kind books out of all sorts of materials, both usual and unusual: paper, old magazines, cereal boxes, maps, playing cards, and even dimensional objects like clocks. Every day we’ll do a combination of book-writing and book-building.
July 13–15
Monday–Wednesday
11:00 am–12:30 pm
Ages 7–13
Monday–Wednesday
11:00 am–12:30 pm
Ages 7–13
In this three-day workshop, we’ll do a combo of writing prompts, writing and drawing games, and independent writing time. Students can write in any genre. Everyone will get individualized instructor feedback.
August 3–5
Mon–Wed 1:00–2:30 pm
Ages 7–13
Mon–Wed 1:00–2:30 pm
Ages 7–13
August 12–14
Wed–Fri 6:00–7:30 pm
Ages 13–17
Wed–Fri 6:00–7:30 pm
Ages 13–17
In this three-day workshop, we’ll be making zines and printing copies of them on a risograph (a giant stencil duplicator from 2008). Students can work with a variety of materials including typewriters, old newspapers, maps, old photographs, and stamps. Everyone will leave with copies of their zines to give to family and friends!
August 5–7
2:45–4:15 pm
Ages 13–17
2:45–4:15 pm
Ages 13–17
Summer 2026:
One-day programs
Join us to write snail-mail letters! Letter-writing tools include typewriters, old-school dip pens and fountain pens, and real wax seals. We’ll also have markers, colored pencils, collage supplies, and lots more. We’ll even provide stamps.
Monday July 27
3:30–5:00 pm
Ages 7–13
3:30–5:00 pm
Ages 7–13
Friday July 31
3:30–5:00 pm
Ages 13–18
3:30–5:00 pm
Ages 13–18
Who ever said a novel needed to be longer than a paragraph? And who ever said a poem couldn’t be three words long? In this workshop, we’ll write very very very short stories and very very very tiny poems. Or, everyone will rebel and write really long stories and really long poems. That would be fine too! Time will tell.
Monday July 20
3:00–4:30 pm
Ages 7–13
3:00–4:30 pm
Ages 7–13
Tuesday July 21
Wed–Fri 3:00–4:30 pm
Ages 13–17
Wed–Fri 3:00–4:30 pm
Ages 13–17
About our teachers
Somehow School founder
Main instructor
Nora Claire Miller is a writer and educator with more than a decade of experience teaching creative writing to kids and teens.
Nora’s debut book Groceries was named one of the New York Public Library’s best books of 2025. Their poetry and nonfiction has recently appeared in The Paris Review and Hyperallergic. They hold an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a BA from Hampshire College.
Nora has taught after-school poetry classes in Pittsfield public schools through The Mastheads, led youth programs and camps with the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, the Iowa Youth Writing Project, the Junior High Writing Conference, and the Grant Wood Arts Colony Summer Camp. They have adjudicated submissions for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and served as an admissions reader for the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio. They have also privately tutored high school students in creative writing and college-application essays.
Nora lives in Western Massachusetts with their partner Kelly Clare and their cat Ramona. When they’re not teaching or writing, Nora can usually be found gardening or taking apart an old computer.
Accessibility
Our entrance is on the ground floor, but there is a short step leading to the front entrance. There is also a short step leading to the restroom.
To protect against COVID-19, the flu, and other airborne illnesses, the space is equipped with a high-quality air purifier that provides continuous HEPA filtration.
Students are not required to wear masks in workshops. Nora, our main instructor, often wears a mask while teaching. The space is cleaned between classes.