Creative Youth Collective
Studios I & II
The Creative Youth Collective is a mentorship program for young writers who want to take their ideas seriously and develop them into meaningful, finished work.
Through one-on-one sessions and long-term creative guidance, students not only develop strong writing skills but also build a sustainable creative practice that often culminates in published books and public presentations of their work.
Over the past few years, authors in the Collective have published 27 books. Our books are featured in the permanent collections of the San Mateo Public Library and the International Library of Young Authors in San Francisco. They are also available for viewing and purchase in our library.
We offer two mentorship studios based on age and experience: Studio I: Story & Voice (ages 10-13) and Studio II: Worldbuilding & Vision (ages 14-21).
Studio I: Story & Voice (Ages 10–13)
Studio I supports young writers in expanding their imagination and developing strong storytelling foundations.
With an emphasis on experimentation, voice, and creative risk-taking, writers build skills in:
story structure
character development
dialogue
revision
Students gain confidence in trusting their creative instincts while learning to carry a project from initial idea to finished work.
Studio I participants work toward publication and share their work with a wider audience.
Founder, Kathryn Ian Gentzke, and author, Zoe Moses (13), with her first novel, Farewell
Studio II: Worldbuilding & Vision (Ages 14–21)
Studio II is designed for writers who are ready for sustained, high-level creative growth.
This mentorship studio focuses not only on craft, but also on clarifying the deeper ideas and questions that give a writer’s work coherence and direction.
In Studio II, worldbuilding is understood broadly as the development of a distinctive creative voice and vision aligned with the author’s aspirations, values, and motivations.
Writers engage in:
long-term project development
sustained revision
professional portfolio building
creative and intellectual exploration
Studio II authors can also opt to receive support with writing competitions or college application essays while developing a creative practice that will sustain them well beyond high school.
Marco Calia speaking about his book, Evolving Memory, at the International Library of Young Authors, San Francisco.
Program Structure
Consistent one-on-one mentorship sessions
Highly personalized and collaborative project-based approach
Ongoing support between sessions
Opportunities for publication, public sharing, and professional portfolio building
Enrollment
Fall enrollment for Studio I and Studio II is now open. Space is limited.
Click here to schedule a consultation and learn more about whether the program is a good fit for your young writer.
FAQs
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We have three opportunities to join in the year (space permitting):
• Our spring semester begins in January
• Summer term begins in June
• Fall semester begins in September
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Each member spends at least 75 minutes per week on their creative project.
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We schedule our sessions in consultation with parents. We meet at a consistent time, so that we have a regular cadence to our creative practice.
The majority of our meetings take place on Zoom, but occasionally we’ll schedule an in person meeting when the need arises. Throughout the year we also host select in-person events in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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A full year membership includes thirty-six 75-minute one-to-one sessions scheduled over the course of the year, access to all collective sessions, 3 in-person community events, 3 parent consultations, a personalized, professional quality blog, personalized next steps for work between sessions, weekly feedback on independent work, the first copy of your book, if you choose to publish, and so much more.
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Yes, we offer a 3 month membership for new members. Our 3 month membership includes eight 75-minute sessions scheduled at your convenience over the course of a 90-day period for $2939. At the end of the program, you can apply the tuition to a full year membership if you’d like to continue.
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Yes, we have a scholarship program. The Creative Youth Collective scholarship program is fiscally sponsored by Wild Projects, and we are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations and corporate matching gifts. Please get in touch with Kathryn at kathryn@cccproject.space for more information on how to support our scholarship program and how to apply.