Coaching-led learning
Individual guidance helps young writers discover and develop their own creative voice.
Educators use questions, encouragement and feedback rather than writing students' work for them.
Creative Writing & Storytelling
Young Authors Workshop
From an idea to a story that's uniquely yours. Develop, refine and share an original piece of writing.
Curriculum overviewDevelop
Register Your Interest Program description
From an idea to a story that's uniquely yours.
Young Authors Workshop is a guided creative writing experience for students who want to develop an original piece of writing over an extended period.
Students explore the writing process from initial ideas and planning through drafting, revision and preparation for sharing.
Working on a self-selected, age-appropriate writing project, students develop their ability to organise ideas, construct narratives, experiment with language and strengthen their individual writing style.
The workshop introduces students to practical writing habits used by authors, including setting writing goals, maintaining drafts, seeking appropriate feedback and making deliberate revisions.
Students learn that writing is an iterative process and that effective creative work often develops through experimentation, reflection and improvement.
Educators provide coaching and constructive feedback while encouraging students to retain ownership of their work.
Depending on their age and interests, students may develop a short story, illustrated story, collection of poems or another approved creative writing project.
The program concludes with an opportunity to share completed work in an appropriate and supportive setting.
What students will learn
Purposeful skills, built through practice.
Develop an independent writing concept
Plan a substantial creative project
Develop narrative voice and writing style
Establish writing goals
Draft and revise original work
Apply constructive feedback
Prepare a completed manuscript
Reflect on their creative development
The Forge difference
Why Families Choose Forge Creative Writing & Storytelling
A supportive, coaching-led pathway where original ideas develop through practice, feedback and purposeful creative work.
Supportive creative environment
A welcoming space where students can explore ideas, experiment and develop confidence.
Students are encouraged to try new writing approaches without unnecessary pressure or comparison.
Imagination & originality
Creative challenges encourage students to develop their own ideas and perspectives.
The academy values originality, curiosity and personal expression.
Age-appropriate guidance
Writing activities are adapted to each student's age, interests and experience.
Students can engage with appropriate writing challenges at different developmental stages.
Progressive development
Practice, feedback and revision help students strengthen their writing over time.
The pathway connects foundational writing, narrative development, independent authorship and publication projects.
Real-world creative outcomes
Students work towards meaningful writing projects they can develop, refine and share.
Creative writing connects to school learning, communication, storytelling, personal expression and future creative interests.
Curriculum
Core learning, clearly connected.
Each area is developed through guided explanation, practical work, testing and reflection.
Learning area 1
Developing an original writing concept.
Learning area 2
Planning and organising an extended writing project.
Learning area 3
Developing narrative voice, language and style.
Learning area 4
Establishing productive writing habits and goals.
Learning area 5
Revising and editing through constructive feedback.
Learning area 6
Preparing a completed work for appropriate sharing.
Eight-session curriculum
A clear journey from first practice to final reflection.
An introductory term sequence. Register your interest to hear when classes open.
- Session 1
The Young Author's Journey
Students explore the writing process and select an original project. They establish achievable writing goals.
- Session 2
Developing the Big Idea
Students refine their concept, intended audience, genre and purpose.
- Session 3
Planning the Manuscript
Students develop an outline, structure or writing plan appropriate to their chosen format.
- Session 4
Developing Voice and Style
Students experiment with language, tone, description and narrative perspective.
- Session 5
The First Draft
Students work on a substantial draft with educator coaching.
- Session 6
Revising with Purpose
Students review structure, clarity, character development and other relevant elements.
- Session 7
Editing and Preparing the Final Work
Students refine language, spelling, grammar, formatting and presentation as appropriate.
- Session 8
Young Authors Showcase
Students share their completed work or an approved extract and reflect on their writing journey.
Student project
My Author's Manuscript
Students develop a substantial original writing project suited to their age and experience. Possible projects include an original short story, an illustrated children's story, a poetry collection, a series of connected stories or an age-appropriate novella excerpt. Students retain authorship of their original work. The finished manuscript may be prepared for an approved class anthology or private digital portfolio. Commercial publication is not promised.
Core skills and outcomes
Learning students can explain and apply.
Develop an independent writing concept
Plan a substantial creative project
Develop narrative voice and writing style
Establish writing goals
Draft and revise original work
Apply constructive feedback
Prepare a completed manuscript
Reflect on their creative development
Your Credential Pathway
Learning that leads somewhere beyond attendance.
This course contributes towards the relevant Academy credential pathway. Students who complete the required learning and demonstrate the assessment standard may become eligible for certification.
- 01
Learn
Complete the Academy program.
- 02
Practise
Develop capability through challenges and guided activities.
- 03
Demonstrate
Complete an applied project or performance.
- 04
Assess
Complete the relevant practical assessment and/or certification examination.
- 05
Credential
Earn the relevant Innovate Forge Academy credential when requirements are successfully demonstrated.
Applied credential pathway
Credential opportunity
Young Author
Assessment
Capstone portfolio, author presentation and reflection
Demonstrate
Produce original, student-authored work through drafting, revision, editing and response to educator feedback.
Next step
Writing & Publishing Capstone
Explore Certification Pathway- Pathway
- Creative Writing
- Current program
- Young Authors Workshop
- Assessment type
- Model D — Capstone · Capstone portfolio, author presentation and reflection
- Exam requirement
- No written exam required — the student's writing and development are the evidence
- Prerequisite
- None — readiness and pathway requirements apply
- Next credential
- Writing & Publishing Capstone
Where can this learning lead?
- Course
- Writing Challenges
- Portfolio
- Story Writer Credential
- Young Author
- Publishing Capstone
Growth & Care approach
More than a course. A supported learning journey.
Coaching can support revision and reflection, approved mentoring can help students establish writing goals and develop an independent voice, and pastoral care maintains privacy and professional boundaries. An individual mentor is not promised.
The exact coaching, mentoring and pastoral-care practices included are confirmed for each program. An individually assigned mentor is not promised.
Explore our learning approachAuthorship & publication
Student Voice and Creative Ownership
Students are encouraged to develop their own ideas, stories and creative voice. They retain ownership of their original work, and any public showcasing or publication opportunities will be discussed separately with families where appropriate.
Students can create from imagination and are never required to share private or personal experiences as part of the program.
Student authorship
Students retain rights in their original work. Educator feedback is designed to support—not replace—the student's own thinking, ideas and writing.
Originality & attribution
Age-appropriate guidance helps students understand originality, copyright, permissions and appropriate attribution of source material, images and collaborative contributions.
Privacy & consent
Sharing work within a class is different from publishing it publicly. Public use of identifiable student work, names, photographs or personal information requires appropriate consent.
Safe publication
Public showcases, competitions, commercial distribution and third-party publishing may require separate consent, review and approval before student work is shared.
Responsible AI
AI tools are not a required part of the program. Where AI is used, it should support rather than replace student thinking and must preserve student authorship, privacy and age-appropriate safeguards.
Creative choice
Students are free to create from imagination. Fictional and alternative prompts are always available, and students are never required to disclose private, family or personal experiences.
The Forge App
Continue learning with the Forge App.
Forge is included with every program, and writing resources sit alongside the class work. Student writing stays with the Academy and is not sent to external AI services.
Digital writing journals
Draft submissions
Educator feedback
Revision activities
Writing portfolios
Suggested learning pathway
Imagine, develop and share.
This is guidance, not a mandatory prerequisite chain. Students may enter at the level suited to their age, interests and experience.
Forge learning support
Forge supports digital writing journals, draft submissions, educator feedback, revision activities, writing portfolios. Parents can follow their child's writing journey from the parent portal.
Available sessions
No Young Authors Workshop session is currently confirmed. Register your interest for approved dates, locations and delivery details.
View Term 1 2027 catalogueFees and enrolment
Fees, available places and enrolment arrangements have not been approved. Register your interest to receive confirmed information.
Register Your InterestFrequently asked
Course questions.
Is my child required to be a confident writer?
No. Activities are adapted to age and experience, and beginners are welcome where indicated. No particular writing or confidence outcome is guaranteed.
What if my child struggles with spelling or grammar?
The program values ideas and expression alongside age-appropriate development of clarity, spelling and grammar. Support is matched to the learner without writing their work for them.
Are the courses suitable for beginner writers?
Developing writers. Educators can help families choose a suitable starting point, and activities are adapted to age and previous experience.
How are students grouped by age and experience?
Grouping arrangements are confirmed for each approved intake. The published age guidance is provisional, and educators consider age, interests, literacy development and previous writing experience.
Does my child need to complete the previous course first?
No. The pathway is suggested rather than mandatory. Educators can help families identify an appropriate entry point based on age, interests and experience.
What types of writing will students create?
My Author's Manuscript: Students develop a substantial original writing project suited to their age and experience. Possible projects include an original short story, an illustrated children's story, a poetry collection, a series of connected stories or an age-appropriate novella excerpt. Students retain authorship of their original work. The finished manuscript may be prepared for an approved class anthology or private digital portfolio. Commercial publication is not promised.
How does coaching support individual development?
Educators use questions, encouragement and constructive feedback to support original ideas, purposeful revision and growing independence.
Will students have opportunities to share their writing?
The curriculum includes appropriate class sharing or private showcase opportunities. Participation and format depend on the learner, approved arrangements and relevant consent.
Will student work be published publicly?
Not automatically. Public sharing, external competitions, commercial distribution and third-party publication require separate review and appropriate parent or guardian consent.
Who owns the copyright to my child's writing?
Students retain appropriate rights to their original work. Enrolment does not grant the academy unrestricted rights to reproduce, sell or commercially exploit it.
Will students use AI writing tools?
AI writing tools are not promised. Any future use must support student authorship and independent thinking, with appropriate privacy, age and authorisation safeguards.
What course should my child take next?
Writing & Publishing Projects, or separately approved Advanced Creative Writing or Independent Author Mentoring. This is a suggested progression rather than a mandatory prerequisite, and educators can discuss an appropriate next step.
Where and when are classes available?
No date, time, venue, trainer, capacity or commencement date is confirmed on this page. Register your interest to receive approved details.
Related courses
Continue the learning journey.
These are suggested routes, not mandatory prerequisites. Existing experience can support a different entry point.
Creative Writing & Storytelling
Writing & Publishing Projects
Experience the journey from first idea to finished publication.
Years 6–12. Guidance is matched to learner age and experience. Developing to advanced writers.
Explore program
Communication & Leadership
Storytelling
Connect with an audience through vivid, purposeful stories.
Years 2–8. Guidance is matched to learner age and experience. Beginner to developing.
Explore programCommunication & Leadership
Presentation Skills
Plan and deliver clear, engaging presentations.
Years 5–12. Guidance is matched to learner age and experience. Beginner to advanced.
Explore programCurriculum-connected
Curriculum & capability connections
Young Authors Workshop supports sustained writing — developing a longer piece over several weeks.
Practical skills and activities
- Planning a longer piece
- Regular drafting and conferencing
- Revising for a final version
General capabilities
LiteracyCritical and Creative ThinkingPersonal and Social Capability
View Curriculum Connections
Australian Curriculum v9
- EnglishCore connectionCreating written texts: narrative, vocabulary and language choices
- EnglishCore connectionEditing and revising drafts for audience and purpose
- The ArtsSupporting connectionStorytelling and creative expression
Victorian Curriculum
- English — Writing, and Reading and viewing (Victorian Curriculum 2.0)
- Critical and Creative Thinking capability
International references
- IB Approaches to Learning — thinking, communication and social skills
- Cambridge learner attributes — confident, reflective, innovative and engaged
These connections show how the program complements school learning. They are not accreditation or endorsement by any curriculum authority, and participation does not replace school assessment. Schools can request a program-level mapping summary.
Forge Discovery Starter Session
New to this learning area?
Not sure whether this program is the right starting point for your child? Explore our Forge Discovery Starter Session and discover an introductory learning experience relevant to your child's interests.
Interested in this program?
Tell us what your learner is curious about and we’ll help identify an appropriate next step.