Somehow School
for Young Writers
Western Mass
Somehow School is a creative writing school for kids and teens. Our writing lessons are unusual: they often involve vintage computers, visual art, and going outside.
Our approach helps students stop worrying about writing “correctly” and instead to see language as a creative tool—and one they already know how to use.
A typical Somehow School prompt might include writing a short story with no nouns, translating bird calls into words, and writing a poem that’s three-dimensional.
We don’t dictate what students should write about or how. Instead, we help each student set and achieve their own creative goals, whether they want to write a short story in text-message format, or a poem about dogs in outer space, or a musical about dolphins.
What programs do you offer?
We offer weekly 1.5 hour workshops in eight-week intervals. We also offer one-time single-day classes on special topics, and multi-day camps during school breaks.
What are weekly workshops like?
Our workshop sessions are divided into lessons, writing time, and sharing time.
For students who already know what they want to write, we provide the support to make that happen, whether that’s feedback, encouragement, or even just a quiet space to write.
For students who aren’t sure what to write, we help brainstorm or give tried-and-tested writing prompts (we’ve got hundreds!).
In the age of AI, why is it important for kids to practice creative writing?
AI has made un-creative writing much easier. A robot can spit out a form letter or give technical instructions, or even write a boring song.
But good writing, the kind of writing you remember, is built on surprise--on combining words in new ways. Good writing breaks the rules and pushes language to evolve.
An AI, meanwhile, can only imitate what it’s been told. It can’t think outside the box, or come up with new ideas.
Somehow School helps young writers build the skills AI will never have--to communicate creatively, to think critically, and to imagine a better world.
Why do you use obsolete technology in your classes?
We provide vintage computers and typewriters for students to write with during workshops. Using outdated machines provides a sense of novelty while also limiting distractions; you can’t browse the internet on them. This practice also helps prevent e-waste and encourages students to think sustainably about tech.
I heard you don’t care about spelling or grammar?!
It’s true--in our creative writing workshops, we tell students not to worry about spelling and grammar while drafting. Stopping to look up every word or adhering to complicated rules can throw off the creative process. Plus, the fact is, spelling just isn’t as important as it used to be. We live in a world with spell-check.
We know our students have plenty to say, even if they can’t spell all the words or write them in the kind of grammatical English expected in most schools. By removing barriers to writing, we help students build confidence and skills at the same time.
Why are you called the Somehow School?
“Related somehow they may be,
The sedge stands near the sea –”
-Emily Dickinson