YOU’RE A YOUNG WRITER WITH STORIES TO TELL AND IDEAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
YOU WANT TO SHARE THOSE STORIES AND IDEAS WITH OTHERS.
HOW DO YOU GET THOSE STORIES OUT OF YOUR HEAD AND ONTO PAPER—AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO READ THEM?
Writing is about connecting. And yet writing nearly always requires that you sit alone to do the work—which means you’re alone with your harshest critic.
Too often the voices of self-doubt shout us down before we get anything written. Or when we do get something written, it’s hard to know whether the work is good enough —or how to make it better.
That’s the problem with the Inner Critic: it can always tell you that something is wrong with your writing, but it’s not very good at telling you how your writing could be better.
Click here to listen to a conversation on the Habit Podcast about the S.E. between Jonathan Rogers and “Momerator” Andrea Yenne.
Our writing classes will grow your skills as a writer and help you develop your unique voice. But what really solidifies those gains is the community of like-minded young writers who give each other just a little more courage.
When you join The Habit, Student Edition, you will have full access to both our live classes and our ever-growing library of class recordings. And even more importantly, you will be a member of a community—connecting with other young writers, benefitting from their wisdom and good will, and giving them your own.
The Habit, S.E. is a place for young writers to gather in friendship, fellowship, and support for one another’s creative work.
“Though the love of story and desire to create binds us here, we are not limited by those things. Many times, our writing and conversations revolve around those things, but they don’t have to. My friends are here to support me whether I’m struggling in my writing or struggling in life. And it’s not just the people who run in the same circles as me—everyone here uses their time to build each other up, regardless of our relationship.
That’s a theme here. We encourage each other and build each other up. That comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s those deep conversations where tears are shed between two friends—even though it’s online; sometimes it’s those light interactions where laughter rings across the globe; sometimes it’s poetry or stories that speaks to someone; sometimes it’s just knowing that others are there and praying for you. It’s a ginormous network of support that we all contribute to and benefit from.
And if I haven’t made it clear enough, the Habit is full of beautiful people who want to inspire a love of creation and beauty in others. When I first came here, I was astounded by the kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness of the people who make the Habit as amazing as it is: the kids, our teacher, and our moderator. The administrators truly care for each and every one of us, and the students are invested in the community.
Overall, these classes and this community have kept me writing, imagining, creating, and dreaming in a way I don’t think anything else can.”
The Habit Blog (an archive of The Habit Weekly).
The Habit Podcast
Year-round student discussion forums
Spaces for sharing stories, poetry, and art for feedback
Live online creative writing classes four times per year (included with membership)
Virtual writing rooms three times per week for solidarity and fellowship
Live Zoom “Office Hours” with Jonathan Rogers
Archive of all past creative writing classes (150 hours of video content and growing!)
Grammar for Writers (a 42-lesson deep-dive into English grammar)
Monthly writing prompts
Collaborative Storytelling
Book clubs
“Since I joined the Habit, I have found a place where I belong. I can’t put into words what the Habit has done for me. There is no other place where I feel the same feeling of belonging, except at Church. This community is made up of individuals who love to write and read and tell stories. Amazing stories. Stories that make me laugh, and cry, and suck me in more than novels that say “New York Times Bestseller”. I had no idea the talent that people my age possess.
This is greatly due to our amazing teacher, Dr. Jonathan Rogers. He is an incredible writer and his courses are immersive and helpful in many different ways. They dive deep into books and pull out meanings and teachings that I never would have associated. He also teaches us so much about writing and the different strategies and ways of the pen (or pencil, or keyboard, or typewriter).
But the best part of the Habit is, and always will be, the people. My friends, my fellow writers. They are what makes it so special. If I wanted a place where I could find writing prompts I would subscribe to some boring newsletter or magazine. But this place is different. Yes, absolutely it gives us all the tools and prompts we need and find helpful, but there is so much more. The people here are more than just amazing writers, they are amazing people. We have fun together and talk about books, shows, movies, and other things. We write stories together. They laugh with me, they cry with me, they pray with me and for me. They write with me. They share their writings, their passions, and their advice with me.
The Habit is so much more than just a writing community. It is a group of friends who build stories, lives, and friendships together.”
“To be perfectly honest, I don’t think it would be pushing it to say that the Habit has actually changed my life. I would never have dreamed before (well, I would have dreamed, but I would have thought that was all it was) that there were so many others like me who actually liked writing, and actually liked reading and talking about Tolkien and words and creative things in general. I still absolutely love this place, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
And if and when I do leave this place, it will have left a lasting impact on me to know that, even if they’re all the way across the pond, there are other people like me, who don’t fit into the natural groves of the world and who enjoy the same things I do.
To be honest, that’s probably one of the biggest thing I’ve gotten from this place. The others, of course, are my writing and my art, and how much I’ve been able to improve them. Both of those things were nothing like they are now before the Habit, and a lot of that is due to the helpful and kind feedback and incredibly encouraging comments I’ve received from this wonderful place.
In short, I would be a completely different person than I am now if it wasn’t for the Habit. Thank you all of you!”
The Habit, S.E. is a private, invitation-only community for young writers ages 13-19. Students must first complete one of our six week classes ($119, in the Summer, Fall, or Winter) in order to be invited to join. Please contact our Community Coordinator/ moderator, Andrea Yenne, to register your teen writer for an upcoming class or to be added to our waiting list. andrea.yenne@thehabit.co
The Habit, S.E. is for young writers of all experience levels, from beginners all the way up to published writers. One of the foundational principles of The Habit is the idea that writing is an act of generosity and friendship. In our community, writers of all levels have ample opportunity to practice and receive both.
The Habit, S.E. is geared toward teens and young adults. Writers can join up to age 19, and stay through their early 20s. (If you’re already over 19, please join the regular Habit membership)
If you have a monthly S.E. membership, you can cancel any time, but you must keep your membership active to stay in the community (and receive the monthly discount on classes). If you cancel your membership, you must pay for another class in order to join again.)
We do not offer a yearly membership option for students. The S.E. community is moderated seven days a week, year-round, and our moderator must be compensated for her time. But a year of monthly membership still saves you money on our writing classes—and gives your teen writer to chance to be part of an incredible (and safe!) community of writers!
There are people who need to read what only you can write.
The Habit, S.E. membership can help you on your writer’s journey—and you’ll make lifelong friends along the way!
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